City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 216 in Indianapolis, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 246, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,156 in Indianapolis.
Safety is where Indianapolis and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 126 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,156 in Indianapolis 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. Indianapolis 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 crime gap is citywide. Laredo has rougher pockets and Indianapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Indianapolis and Laredo are 1,141 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,156 a month in Indianapolis to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $126 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $66,219 in Indianapolis to $63,915 in Laredo, down $2,304 (3%).
The crime index goes from 216 in Indianapolis to 90 in Laredo, down 126 points (58%).
The move
Laredo and Indianapolis are 1,141 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,156 a month in Indianapolis, up $126 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $66,219 in Indianapolis, up $2,304 (4%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 216 in Indianapolis, up 126 points (140%).
Indianapolis, 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 Indianapolis and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Laredo rent is 11% cheaper than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
$1,156/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,156 in Indianapolis, so Laredo is 11% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,512, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Laredo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Indianapolis.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Indianapolis's median income is 4% higher than Laredo
Indianapolis
Winner$66,219
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $66,219 in Indianapolis versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Indianapolis (about $2,304 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
58% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 58% lower than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
216 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 216 in Indianapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% 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. Indianapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 28% more comfortable than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Indianapolis averages about 57°F (66°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Indianapolis averages around 57°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 28% 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 Indianapolis 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
Indianapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($66,219). Start with Indianapolis 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 11% 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 Indianapolis on this page's weather index by 28%. Indianapolis 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 58% lower than Indianapolis (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
Indianapolis carries the heavier crime signal on this page (37/100 safety vs 63/100 in Laredo). That 26-point spread matters more than the $126 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 37/100 in Indianapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,030 in Laredo and $1,156 in Indianapolis.
Laredo clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Indianapolis deserves a serious look only when you already know the Indianapolis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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