City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Safety is where Bakersfield and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 58 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,030 in Laredo.
This is a genuine split. Bakersfield wins on the job market and Laredo wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Bakersfield and Laredo are 1,269 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $442 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $63,915 in Laredo, down $16,625 (21%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 90 in Laredo, down 58 points (39%).
The move
Laredo and Bakersfield are 1,269 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $442 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $16,625 (26%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 148 in Bakersfield, up 58 points (64%).
Bakersfield, CA
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 Bakersfield and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Laredo rent is 30% cheaper than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Laredo is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $442/month back in your pocket ($5,304/year). Over five years that's $26,520 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 Bakersfield, 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
26% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 26% higher than Laredo
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 26% higher in Bakersfield (about $16,625 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, Bakersfield 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
39% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 39% lower than Bakersfield
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. Bakersfield can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Bakersfield and Laredo are about even on typical weather.
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Bakersfield is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 26% higher here ($80,540). Start with Bakersfield if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% 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.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Bakersfield (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
Bakersfield carries the heavier crime signal on this page (48/100 safety vs 63/100 in Laredo). That 15-point spread matters more than the $442 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Bakersfield still pays more locally ($80,540 median income vs $63,915), which can offset the lease if your field pays Bakersfield rates.
Median income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Pick Laredo when you want the stronger safety signal (63/100). Otherwise, Bakersfield's case rests on a Bakersfield ZIP you trust at $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Laredo when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Bakersfield and Laredo, plus other cities in CA and TX.
