City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Safety is where Portland and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 175 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,655 in Portland 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. Portland 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
Portland and Laredo are 1,778 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $625 a month (38%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $63,915 in Laredo, down $27,004 (30%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 90 in Laredo, down 175 points (66%).
The move
Laredo and Portland are 1,778 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $625 a month (61%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $90,919 in Portland, up $27,004 (42%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 265 in Portland, up 175 points (194%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
38% cheaper
Laredo rent is 38% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,655 in Portland, so Laredo is 38% cheaper. That's roughly $625/month back in your pocket ($7,500/year). Over five years that's $37,500 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 Portland, 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
42% higher
Portland's median income is 42% higher than Laredo
Portland
Winner$90,919
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Portland (about $27,004 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, Portland 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
66% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 66% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 66% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
16% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 16% more comfortable than Portland
Portland
60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 16% 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 Portland 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
Portland is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 42% higher here ($90,919). Start with Portland 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 38% 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 Portland on this page's weather index by 16%. Portland 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 66% lower than Portland (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Laredo leads on safety (63/100 vs 30/100 in Portland). Typical rent is $1,030 in Laredo and $1,655 in Portland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Portland still pays more locally ($90,919 median income vs $63,915), which can offset the lease if your field pays Portland rates.
Median income is $90,919 in Portland versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Laredo; Portland only makes sense when you have walked the Portland ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,655 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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