Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293
Wichita
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
32% less violent crime than Wichita
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 44°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Wichita, KS
Pros
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 89.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
32% lower
365.8 vs 538.6 per 100k
Laredo
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 92.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 89.5 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $166,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 12 and Wichita wins 11. 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $166,400 median home), income ($60,928 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Wichita, KS are about 711 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.