City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Safety is where Denver and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 181 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,831 in Denver 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. Denver 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
Denver and Laredo are 902 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $801 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $63,915 in Laredo, down $30,803 (33%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 90 in Laredo, down 181 points (67%).
The move
Laredo and Denver are 902 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $801 a month (78%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $94,718 in Denver, up $30,803 (48%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 271 in Denver, up 181 points (201%).
Denver, CO
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 Denver and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
Laredo rent is 44% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,831 in Denver, so Laredo is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $801/month back in your pocket ($9,612/year). Over five years that's $48,060 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 Denver, 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
48% higher
Denver's median income is 48% higher than Laredo
Denver
Winner$94,718
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 48% higher in Denver (about $30,803 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, Denver 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
67% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 67% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 9% more comfortable than Denver
Denver
62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 9% 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 Denver 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
Denver is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 48% higher here ($94,718). Start with Denver 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 44% 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 Denver on this page's weather index by 9%. Denver 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 67% lower than Denver (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Laredo: Laredo scores 63/100 versus 30/100 in Denver, with typical rent at $1,030 versus $1,831. I would vet the exact ZIP in Denver before trading 33 safety points for housing savings.
Denver still pays more locally ($94,718 median income vs $63,915), which can offset the lease if your field pays Denver rates.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $63,915 in Laredo.
If safety drives your move, Laredo is the stronger match (63/100 safety versus 30/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Denver, treat $1,831/month rent and $94,718 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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