City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,331 in Baltimore.
Safety is where Baltimore and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 248 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,030 in Laredo.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Baltimore 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
Baltimore and Laredo are 1,545 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $301 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $63,915 in Laredo, up $1,738 (3%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 90 in Laredo, down 248 points (73%).
The move
Laredo and Baltimore are 1,545 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, up $301 a month (29%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $1,738 (3%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 338 in Baltimore, up 248 points (276%).
Baltimore, MD
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 Baltimore and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Laredo rent is 23% cheaper than Baltimore
Baltimore
$1,331/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,331 in Baltimore, so Laredo is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $301/month back in your pocket ($3,612/year). Over five years that's $18,060 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 Baltimore, 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
3% higher
Laredo's median income is 3% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Laredo
Winner$63,915
Median household income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Laredo (about $1,738 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
73% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 73% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 73% 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. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 39% more comfortable than Baltimore
Baltimore
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°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 39% 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 Baltimore if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Baltimore
On these five categories Laredo takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Baltimore because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Baltimore only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 3% higher ($63,915), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 73% lower than Baltimore (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
Baltimore carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 63/100 in Laredo). That 40-point spread matters more than the $301 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 23/100 in Baltimore), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,030 in Laredo and $1,331 in Baltimore.
Pick Laredo when you want the stronger safety signal (63/100). Otherwise, Baltimore's case rests on a Baltimore ZIP you trust at $1,331 rent.
Common questions
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