City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 102 in Lexington, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 72, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,164 in Lexington.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Lexington and Laredo. Lexington averages 54°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 $1,164 versus $1,030.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Lexington 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 Lexington in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Lexington and Laredo are 1,132 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $134 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $63,915 in Laredo, down $5,564 (8%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 90 in Laredo, down 12 points (12%).
The move
Laredo and Lexington are 1,132 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,164 a month in Lexington, up $134 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $69,479 in Lexington, up $5,564 (9%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 102 in Lexington, up 12 points (13%).
Lexington, KY
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 Lexington and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
12% cheaper
Laredo rent is 12% cheaper than Lexington
Lexington
$1,164/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,164 in Lexington, so Laredo is 12% 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 $1,608, 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 Lexington.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
9% higher
Lexington's median income is 9% higher than Laredo
Lexington
Winner$69,479
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 9% higher in Lexington (about $5,564 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
12% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 12% lower than Lexington
Lexington
102 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 102 in Lexington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% 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 Lexington. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 45% more comfortable than Lexington
Lexington
54°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 69/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lexington averages about 54°F (64°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Lexington averages around 54°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 45% 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 Lexington 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
Lexington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 9% higher here ($69,479). Start with Lexington 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 12% 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 Lexington on this page's weather index by 45%. Lexington 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 12% lower than Lexington (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
Laredo runs 73°F typical weather against 54°F in Lexington (comfort scores 100 vs 69). Housing is $1,030/month versus $1,164/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
With only $134 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 59/100 in Lexington and 63/100 in Laredo.
Pick Lexington when 54°F is the daily environment you want. Otherwise, Laredo's case rests on 73°F you prefer and $1,030 rent you can sustain.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Lexington and Laredo, plus other cities in KY and TX.
