City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 183 in Oklahoma City, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 197, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Safety is where Oklahoma City and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 93 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,130 in Oklahoma City 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. Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Oklahoma City and Laredo are 562 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $100 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $63,915 in Laredo, down $4,741 (7%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 90 in Laredo, down 93 points (51%).
The move
Laredo and Oklahoma City are 562 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, up $100 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $4,741 (7%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 183 in Oklahoma City, up 93 points (103%).
Oklahoma City, OK
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 Oklahoma City and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
9% cheaper
Laredo rent is 9% cheaper than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$1,130/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City, so Laredo is 9% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $100, or $1,200 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
7% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 7% higher than Laredo
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Oklahoma City (about $4,741 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
51% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 51% lower than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
183 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 183 in Oklahoma City (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. Oklahoma City can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 12% more comfortable than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 12% 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 Oklahoma City 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
Oklahoma City is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 7% higher here ($68,656). Start with Oklahoma City 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 9% 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 Oklahoma City on this page's weather index by 12%. Oklahoma City 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 51% lower than Oklahoma City (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 42/100 in Oklahoma City, with typical rent at $1,030 versus $1,130. I would vet the exact ZIP in Oklahoma City before trading 21 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 42/100 in Oklahoma City), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Laredo clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Oklahoma City deserves a serious look only when you already know the Oklahoma City block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and Laredo, plus other cities in OK and TX.
