City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 193 in Durham, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 163, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
Safety is where Durham and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 103 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,508 in Durham 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. Durham 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
Durham and Laredo are 1,342 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $478 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $63,915 in Laredo, down $17,704 (22%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 90 in Laredo, down 103 points (53%).
The move
Laredo and Durham are 1,342 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $478 a month (46%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $81,619 in Durham, up $17,704 (28%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 193 in Durham, up 103 points (114%).
Durham, NC
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 Durham and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Laredo rent is 32% cheaper than Durham
Durham
$1,508/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,508 in Durham, so Laredo is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $478/month back in your pocket ($5,736/year). Over five years that's $28,680 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 Durham, 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
28% higher
Durham's median income is 28% higher than Laredo
Durham
Winner$81,619
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 28% higher in Durham (about $17,704 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, Durham 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
53% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 53% lower than Durham
Durham
193 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 193 in Durham (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% 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. Durham can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 20% more comfortable than Durham
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Durham averages around 59°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 20% 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 Durham 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
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 28% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham 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 32% 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 Durham on this page's weather index by 20%. Durham 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 53% lower than Durham (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 40/100 in Durham, with typical rent at $1,030 versus $1,508. I would vet the exact ZIP in Durham before trading 23 safety points for housing savings.
Durham still pays more locally ($81,619 median income vs $63,915), which can offset the lease if your field pays Durham rates.
Median income is $81,619 in Durham versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Laredo clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Durham deserves a serious look only when you already know the Durham block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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