Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293
Virginia Beach
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $179k less ($164,400 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $600/mo less ($968 vs $1,568)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 50°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $26,616/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.3%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Laredo
Households earn $26,616 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$179k less
$164,400 vs $343,700
Laredo
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$26,616
$87,544 vs $60,928/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
75% lower
92.3 vs 365.8 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 10 and Virginia Beach wins 13. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $343,700 median home), income ($60,928 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.