Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
6% less violent crime than Tyler
Homes cost $41k less ($164,400 vs $205,200)
Rent averages $145/mo less ($968 vs $1,113)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Tyler
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Tyler, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 100°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
6% lower
365.8 vs 391.2 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$41k less
$164,400 vs $205,200
Laredo
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 93.1°F
Tyler
Median Income
$2,128
$63,056 vs $60,928/yr
Tyler
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $205,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 13 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $205,200 median home), income ($60,928 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Tyler, TX are about 413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.