City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Safety is where Nashville and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 192 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,586 in Nashville 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. Nashville 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 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
Nashville and Laredo are 955 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $556 a month (35%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $63,915 in Laredo, down $13,456 (17%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 90 in Laredo, down 192 points (68%).
The move
Laredo and Nashville are 955 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $556 a month (54%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $77,371 in Nashville, up $13,456 (21%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 282 in Nashville, up 192 points (213%).
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
35% cheaper
Laredo rent is 35% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Laredo is 35% cheaper. That's roughly $556/month back in your pocket ($6,672/year). Over five years that's $33,360 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 Nashville, 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
21% higher
Nashville's median income is 21% higher than Laredo
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 21% higher in Nashville (about $13,456 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, Nashville 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
68% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 68% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 68% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 3% more comfortable than Nashville
Nashville
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 3% 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 Nashville 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
Nashville is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 21% higher here ($77,371). Start with Nashville 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 35% 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 Nashville on this page's weather index by 3%. Nashville 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 68% lower than Nashville (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Laredo: Laredo scores 63/100 versus 28/100 in Nashville, with typical rent at $1,030 versus $1,586. I would vet the exact ZIP in Nashville before trading 35 safety points for housing savings.
Nashville still pays more locally ($77,371 median income vs $63,915), which can offset the lease if your field pays Nashville rates.
Median income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $63,915 in Laredo.
If safety drives your move, Laredo is the stronger match (63/100 safety versus 28/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Nashville, treat $1,586/month rent and $77,371 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
Ready to move to Laredo?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Laredo when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Nashville and Laredo, plus other cities in TN and TX.
