City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,060 in Cleveland.
Safety is where Cleveland and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 251 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland 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. Cleveland 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 Cleveland has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Cleveland and Laredo are 1,396 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $30 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $63,915 in Laredo, down $553 (1%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 90 in Laredo, down 251 points (74%).
The move
Laredo and Cleveland are 1,396 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, up $30 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $64,468 in Cleveland, up $553 (1%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 341 in Cleveland, up 251 points (279%).
Cleveland, 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 Cleveland and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Laredo rent is 3% cheaper than Cleveland
Cleveland
$1,060/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,060 in Cleveland, so Laredo is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $30, or $360 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
1% higher
Cleveland's median income is 1% higher than Laredo
Cleveland
Winner$64,468
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $64,468 in Cleveland versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Cleveland (about $553 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
74% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 74% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 74% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
56% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 56% more comfortable than Cleveland
Cleveland
52°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 64/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Cleveland averages about 52°F (58°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Cleveland averages around 52°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 56% 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 Cleveland 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
Cleveland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($64,468). Start with Cleveland 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 3% 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 Cleveland on this page's weather index by 56%. Cleveland 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 74% lower than Cleveland (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Laredo leads on safety (63/100 vs 23/100 in Cleveland). Typical rent is $1,030 in Laredo and $1,060 in Cleveland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 23/100 in Cleveland), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,030 in Laredo and $1,060 in Cleveland.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Laredo; Cleveland only makes sense when you have walked the Cleveland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,060 rent.
Common questions
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