City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 147 in Boston, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 175, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $2,147 in Boston.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Boston and Laredo. Boston averages 50°F while Laredo averages 73°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $2,147 versus $1,030.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Boston 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
Boston and Laredo are 1,896 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,147 a month in Boston to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $1,117 a month (52%).
Median household income goes from $97,344 in Boston to $63,915 in Laredo, down $33,429 (34%).
The crime index goes from 147 in Boston to 90 in Laredo, down 57 points (39%).
The move
Laredo and Boston are 1,896 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $2,147 a month in Boston, up $1,117 a month (108%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $97,344 in Boston, up $33,429 (52%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 147 in Boston, up 57 points (63%).
Boston, MA
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 Boston and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
52% cheaper
Laredo rent is 52% cheaper than Boston
Boston
$2,147/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $2,147 in Boston, so Laredo is 52% cheaper. That's roughly $1,117/month back in your pocket ($13,404/year). Over five years that's $67,020 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 Boston, 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
52% higher
Boston's median income is 52% higher than Laredo
Boston
Winner$97,344
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Boston (about $33,429 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, Boston 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 Boston
Boston
147 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 147 in Boston (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. Boston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
72% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 72% more comfortable than Boston
Boston
50°F avg · 56°F highs · comfort 58/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Boston averages about 50°F (56°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Boston averages around 50°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 72% 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 Boston 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
Boston is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 52% higher here ($97,344). Start with Boston 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 52% 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 Boston on this page's weather index by 72%. Boston 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 39% lower than Boston (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
Boston runs $2,147/month while Laredo sits at $1,030 — roughly 52% lower on typical leases. Unless your offer letter is Boston-sized, that monthly gap compounds fast.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below Boston's $2,147, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Boston and 63/100 in Laredo.
Most movers who prioritize housing cost land in Laredo; Boston only makes sense when your offer letter is already written for Boston at $97,344 income.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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