Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293
St. Paul
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($164,400 vs $264,900)
41% less violent crime than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 24°F
Rent averages $206/mo less ($968 vs $1,174)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails St. Paul by $8,991/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
St. Paul, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $8,991 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 100°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Laredo
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
41% lower
365.8 vs 617.7 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$101k less
$164,400 vs $264,900
Laredo
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$8,991
$69,919 vs $60,928/yr
St. Paul
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 88.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 13 and St. Paul wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Laredo to St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $264,900 median home), income ($60,928 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and St. Paul, MN are about 1,252 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.