City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 104 in Fort Wayne, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 84, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Fort Wayne is cheaper. Median rent is $999 a month versus $1,030 in Laredo.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Fort Wayne and Laredo. Fort Wayne averages 51°F while Laredo averages 73°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $999 versus $1,030.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Fort Wayne 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.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Fort Wayne in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Fort Wayne and Laredo are 1,245 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $999 a month in Fort Wayne to $1,030 a month in Laredo, up $31 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $61,422 in Fort Wayne to $63,915 in Laredo, up $2,493 (4%).
The crime index goes from 104 in Fort Wayne to 90 in Laredo, down 14 points (13%).
The move
Laredo and Fort Wayne are 1,245 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $999 a month in Fort Wayne, down $31 a month (3%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $61,422 in Fort Wayne, down $2,493 (4%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 104 in Fort Wayne, up 14 points (16%).
Fort Wayne, IN
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 Fort Wayne and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
3% cheaper
Fort Wayne rent is 3% cheaper than Laredo
Fort Wayne
Winner$999/mo
Laredo
$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $999 a month in Fort Wayne versus $1,030 in Laredo, so Fort Wayne is 3% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $31, or $372 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
4% higher
Laredo's median income is 4% higher than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
$61,422
Laredo
Winner$63,915
Median household income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Laredo (about $2,493 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
13% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 13% lower than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
104 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 104 in Fort Wayne (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 13% lower in Laredo. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Laredo, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fort Wayne. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 64% more comfortable than Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne
51°F avg · 59°F highs · comfort 61/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Wayne averages about 51°F (59°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Fort Wayne averages around 51°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 64% 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 Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 3% cheaper here at about $999 a month. Choose Fort Wayne 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 4% 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 13% lower than Fort Wayne (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
Weather separates these metros: $1,030/month rent in Laredo at 73°F versus $999 in Fort Wayne at 51°F. Income runs $63,915 vs $61,422, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Fort Wayne rent at $999/month is still below Laredo's $1,030, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $61,422 in Fort Wayne.
Most movers who prioritize climate land in Laredo; Fort Wayne only makes sense when 51°F matches how you want to live year-round.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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