City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 90 in Laredo, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 99, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,073 in El Paso.
El Paso and Laredo are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,073 in El Paso and $1,030 in Laredo, and median household income lands at $59,745 versus $63,915. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. El Paso wins on safety and Laredo wins on cost of living and the job market. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
El Paso and Laredo are 512 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $43 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $63,915 in Laredo, up $4,170 (7%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 90 in Laredo, up 3 points (3%).
The move
Laredo and El Paso are 512 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,073 a month in El Paso, up $43 a month (4%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $59,745 in El Paso, down $4,170 (7%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 87 in El Paso, down 3 points (3%).
El Paso, TX
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 El Paso and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
4% cheaper
Laredo rent is 4% cheaper than El Paso
El Paso
$1,073/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,073 in El Paso, so Laredo is 4% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $43, or $516 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
7% higher
Laredo's median income is 7% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Laredo
Winner$63,915
Median household income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Laredo (about $4,170 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
3% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 3% lower than Laredo
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Laredo
90 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 90 in Laredo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 3% lower in El Paso. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in El Paso, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Laredo. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
El Paso and Laredo are about even on typical weather.
El Paso
66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 3% lower than Laredo (87 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.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 4% 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.
Laredo is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($63,915). Start with Laredo if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Laredo posts $63,915 median household income against $59,745 in El Paso. That 7% pay gap is the story when rents are $1,073 in El Paso and $1,030 in Laredo.
With only $43 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,030 in Laredo and $1,073 in El Paso.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in Laredo; El Paso only makes sense when $1,073/month housing savings outweigh $63,915 median pay in your field.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Laredo when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for El Paso and Laredo, plus other cities in TX.
