City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 124 in Lincoln, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 114, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,086 in Lincoln.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Lincoln and Laredo. Lincoln averages 55°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 $1,086 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. Lincoln 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 Lincoln has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Lincoln and Laredo are 933 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,086 a month in Lincoln to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $56 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $71,867 in Lincoln to $63,915 in Laredo, down $7,952 (11%).
The crime index goes from 124 in Lincoln to 90 in Laredo, down 34 points (27%).
The move
Laredo and Lincoln are 933 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,086 a month in Lincoln, up $56 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $71,867 in Lincoln, up $7,952 (12%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 124 in Lincoln, up 34 points (38%).
Lincoln, NE
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 Lincoln and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Laredo rent is 5% cheaper than Lincoln
Lincoln
$1,086/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,086 in Lincoln, so Laredo is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $56, or $672 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
12% higher
Lincoln's median income is 12% higher than Laredo
Lincoln
Winner$71,867
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Lincoln (about $7,952 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, Lincoln 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
27% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 27% lower than Lincoln
Lincoln
124 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 124 in Lincoln (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 27% 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. Lincoln can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 39% more comfortable than Lincoln
Lincoln
55°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 72/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lincoln averages about 55°F (64°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Lincoln averages around 55°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 39% 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 Lincoln 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
Lincoln is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% higher here ($71,867). Start with Lincoln 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 5% 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 Lincoln on this page's weather index by 39%. Lincoln 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 27% lower than Lincoln (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 55°F in Lincoln (comfort scores 100 vs 72). Housing is $1,030/month versus $1,086/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below Lincoln's $1,086, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $71,867 in Lincoln versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Pick Lincoln when 55°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
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