City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 189 in Lubbock, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 221, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,182 in Lubbock.
Safety is where Lubbock and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 99 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,182 in Lubbock and $1,030 in Laredo.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Lubbock 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 Lubbock has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Lubbock and Laredo are 442 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $152 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $63,915 in Laredo, up $3,020 (5%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 90 in Laredo, down 99 points (52%).
The move
Laredo and Lubbock are 442 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, up $152 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $60,895 in Lubbock, down $3,020 (5%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 189 in Lubbock, up 99 points (110%).
Lubbock, 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 Lubbock and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
13% cheaper
Laredo rent is 13% cheaper than Lubbock
Lubbock
$1,182/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,182 in Lubbock, so Laredo is 13% 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 $1,824, 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 Lubbock.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
5% higher
Laredo's median income is 5% higher than Lubbock
Lubbock
$60,895
Laredo
Winner$63,915
Median household income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $60,895 in Lubbock, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Laredo (about $3,020 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
52% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 52% lower than Lubbock
Lubbock
189 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 189 in Lubbock (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 52% 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. Lubbock can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 9% more comfortable than Lubbock
Lubbock
62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Lubbock averages about 62°F (70°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Lubbock averages around 62°F. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 9% 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 Lubbock 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 Lubbock
On these five categories Laredo takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Lubbock because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Lubbock only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 13% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 5% 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 52% lower than Lubbock (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
Lubbock carries the heavier crime signal on this page (41/100 safety vs 63/100 in Laredo). That 22-point spread matters more than the $152 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
With only $152 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 62°F in Lubbock and 73°F in Laredo.
If safety drives your move, Laredo is the stronger match (63/100 safety versus 41/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Lubbock, treat $1,182/month rent and $60,895 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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