City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 135 in Fort Worth, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 121, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth.
Safety is where Fort Worth and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 45 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,509 in Fort Worth and $1,030 in Laredo.
This is a genuine split. Fort Worth wins on the job market and Laredo wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Fort Worth and Laredo are 384 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,509 a month in Fort Worth to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $479 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $79,507 in Fort Worth to $63,915 in Laredo, down $15,592 (20%).
The crime index goes from 135 in Fort Worth to 90 in Laredo, down 45 points (33%).
The move
Laredo and Fort Worth are 384 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,509 a month in Fort Worth, up $479 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $79,507 in Fort Worth, up $15,592 (24%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 135 in Fort Worth, up 45 points (50%).
Fort Worth, 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 Fort Worth and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
32% cheaper
Laredo rent is 32% cheaper than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
$1,509/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,509 in Fort Worth, so Laredo is 32% cheaper. That's roughly $479/month back in your pocket ($5,748/year). Over five years that's $28,740 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 Fort Worth, 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
24% higher
Fort Worth's median income is 24% higher than Laredo
Fort Worth
Winner$79,507
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Fort Worth (about $15,592 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, Fort Worth 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
33% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 33% lower than Fort Worth
Fort Worth
135 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 135 in Fort Worth (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% 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. Fort Worth can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Fort Worth and Laredo are about even on typical weather.
Fort Worth
66°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Fort Worth averages about 66°F (73°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Fort Worth 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Fort Worth is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($79,507). Start with Fort Worth if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
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.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than Fort Worth (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Laredo at $1,030/month versus $1,509 in Fort Worth ($479 apart). Fort Worth median income is $79,507 against $63,915 in Laredo, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below Fort Worth's $1,509, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $79,507 in Fort Worth versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Laredo clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Fort Worth deserves a serious look only when your $79,507 income offer in Fort Worth outweighs saving $479/month in Laredo.
Common questions
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