Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($164,400 vs $352,600)
Rent averages $854/mo less ($968 vs $1,822)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $26,828/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Surprise, AZ
Pros
70% less violent crime than Laredo
Households earn $26,828 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Laredo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$188k less
$164,400 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$26,828
$87,756 vs $60,928/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
70% lower
109.1 vs 365.8 per 100k
Surprise
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 100.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 8 and Surprise wins 15. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $352,600 median home), income ($60,928 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Surprise, AZ are about 878 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.