Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 22 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
Visalia
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($164,400 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $321/mo less ($968 vs $1,289)
16% less violent crime than Visalia
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Visalia
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Visalia by $14,730/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Visalia, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,730 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
16% lower
365.8 vs 435.3 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$152k less
$164,400 vs $316,600
Laredo
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 93.8°F
Visalia
Median Income
$14,730
$75,658 vs $60,928/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 23.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 86.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 60.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 28.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 22 categories. Laredo wins 13 and Visalia wins 9. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $316,600 median home), income ($60,928 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Visalia, CA are about 1,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.