City comparison
Yes. Plano's crime index is 62 versus 90 in Laredo, and its violent crime index is 43 versus 99, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,841 in Plano.
The income gap between Plano and Laredo is significant: $112,253 median household versus $63,915. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,841 in Plano and $1,030 in Laredo.
This is a genuine split. Plano wins on the job market and safety and Laredo wins on cost of living. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Plano and Laredo are 416 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,841 a month in Plano to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $811 a month (44%).
Median household income goes from $112,253 in Plano to $63,915 in Laredo, down $48,338 (43%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Plano to 90 in Laredo, up 28 points (45%).
The move
Laredo and Plano are 416 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,841 a month in Plano, up $811 a month (79%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $112,253 in Plano, up $48,338 (76%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 62 in Plano, down 28 points (31%).
Plano, 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 Plano and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
44% cheaper
Laredo rent is 44% cheaper than Plano
Plano
$1,841/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,841 in Plano, so Laredo is 44% cheaper. That's roughly $811/month back in your pocket ($9,732/year). Over five years that's $48,660 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 Plano, 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 Plano? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
76% higher
Plano's median income is 76% higher than Laredo
Plano
Winner$112,253
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $112,253 in Plano versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 76% higher in Plano (about $48,338 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, Plano 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
31% lower crime
Plano's crime index is 31% lower than Laredo
Plano
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Laredo
90 (100 = avg)
Plano's crime index is 62 versus 90 in Laredo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% lower in Plano. 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, Plano is the easier city. Laredo can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Plano and Laredo are about even on typical weather.
Plano
65°F avg · 73°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Plano averages about 65°F (73°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Plano sits near 65°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Plano is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 76% higher here ($112,253). Start with Plano if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Plano is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Laredo (62 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Laredo
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 44% 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.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,030/month in Laredo versus $1,841 in Plano. Median income reads $63,915 in Laredo and $112,253 in Plano, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Laredo rent at $1,030/month is still below Plano's $1,841, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 75/100 in Plano and 63/100 in Laredo.
Laredo clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Plano deserves a serious look only when your $112,253 income offer in Plano outweighs saving $811/month in Laredo.
Common questions
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