City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 212 in Aurora, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 248, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,835 in Aurora.
Safety is where Aurora and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 122 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,835 in Aurora and $1,030 in Laredo.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Aurora makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Laredo is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Laredo at $1,030 average has pockets that run $830 and others at $1,430: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Aurora and Laredo are 898 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,835 a month in Aurora to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $805 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $88,368 in Aurora to $63,915 in Laredo, down $24,453 (28%).
The crime index goes from 212 in Aurora to 90 in Laredo, down 122 points (58%).
The move
Laredo and Aurora are 898 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,835 a month in Aurora, up $805 a month (78%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $88,368 in Aurora, up $24,453 (38%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 212 in Aurora, up 122 points (136%).
Aurora, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Laredo, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Aurora and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
Laredo rent is 44% cheaper than Aurora
Aurora
$1,835/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,835 in Aurora, so Laredo is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $805/month back in your pocket ($9,660/year). Over five years that's $48,300 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Aurora, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Laredo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
38% higher
Aurora's median income is 38% higher than Laredo
Aurora
Winner$88,368
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Aurora (about $24,453 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Aurora is the stronger labor market on paper. Laredo can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
58% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 58% lower than Aurora
Aurora
212 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 212 in Aurora (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% lower in Laredo. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Laredo is the easier city. Aurora can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 33% more comfortable than Aurora
Aurora
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Aurora averages about 56°F (65°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Aurora averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 33% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Aurora if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Aurora is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 38% higher here ($88,368). Start with Aurora if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 44% cheaper here at about $1,030 a month. Choose Laredo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Laredo if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Aurora on this page's weather index by 33%. Aurora may pay more or cost less, but Laredo is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than Aurora (90 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,030/month in Laredo versus $1,835 in Aurora. Median income reads $63,915 in Laredo and $88,368 in Aurora, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below Aurora's $1,835, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $88,368 in Aurora versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Pick Laredo when shaving $805 off rent at $1,030/month is the priority. Otherwise, Aurora's case rests on $1,835/month rent with $88,368 local income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Aurora and Laredo, plus other cities in CO and TX.
