City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 231 in Cincinnati, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 237, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cincinnati is cheaper. Median rent is $1,001 a month versus $1,030 in Laredo.
Safety is where Cincinnati and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 141 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,001 in Cincinnati and $1,030 in Laredo.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Cincinnati 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 crime gap is citywide. Laredo has rougher pockets and Cincinnati has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Cincinnati and Laredo are 1,178 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,001 a month in Cincinnati to $1,030 a month in Laredo, up $29 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $52,909 in Cincinnati to $63,915 in Laredo, up $11,006 (21%).
The crime index goes from 231 in Cincinnati to 90 in Laredo, down 141 points (61%).
The move
Laredo and Cincinnati are 1,178 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,001 a month in Cincinnati, down $29 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $52,909 in Cincinnati, down $11,006 (17%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 231 in Cincinnati, up 141 points (157%).
Cincinnati, OH
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 Cincinnati and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Cincinnati rent is 3% cheaper than Laredo
Cincinnati
Winner$1,001/mo
Laredo
$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,001 a month in Cincinnati versus $1,030 in Laredo, so Cincinnati is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $29, or $348 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
21% higher
Laredo's median income is 21% higher than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
$52,909
Laredo
Winner$63,915
Median household income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $52,909 in Cincinnati, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Laredo (about $11,006 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, Laredo is the stronger labor market on paper. Cincinnati can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
61% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 61% lower than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
231 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 231 in Cincinnati (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 61% 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. Cincinnati can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
52% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 52% more comfortable than Cincinnati
Cincinnati
53°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 66/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cincinnati averages about 53°F (62°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Cincinnati averages around 53°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 52% 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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati
Cincinnati is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $1,001 a month. Choose Cincinnati if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 21% 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 61% lower than Cincinnati (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
Safety is the widest gap: Laredo scores 63/100 versus 35/100 in Cincinnati. Rent is $1,030/month in Laredo and $1,001/month in Cincinnati, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 35/100 in Cincinnati), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $52,909 in Cincinnati.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Laredo; Cincinnati only makes sense when you have walked the Cincinnati ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,001 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Laredo?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Laredo when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Cincinnati and Laredo, plus other cities in OH and TX.
