Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Laredo leads 15 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $9,477 more per year on average
Rent averages $172/mo less ($968 vs $1,140)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Waterbury, CT
Pros
12% less violent crime than Laredo
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Laredo by $9,477/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.9%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$9,477
$60,928 vs $51,451/yr
Laredo
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.8% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Violent Crime
12% lower
322.5 vs 365.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 81.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 15 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 15 and Waterbury wins 8. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $162,800 median home), income ($60,928 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Waterbury, CT are about 1,778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.