City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 156 in Tucson, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 146, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,145 in Tucson.
Safety is where Tucson and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 66 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,145 in Tucson and $1,030 in Laredo.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Tucson 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 Tucson has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tucson and Laredo are 757 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Tucson to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $115 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $57,073 in Tucson to $63,915 in Laredo, up $6,842 (12%).
The crime index goes from 156 in Tucson to 90 in Laredo, down 66 points (42%).
The move
Laredo and Tucson are 757 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,145 a month in Tucson, up $115 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $57,073 in Tucson, down $6,842 (11%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 156 in Tucson, up 66 points (73%).
Tucson, AZ
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 Tucson and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Laredo rent is 10% cheaper than Tucson
Tucson
$1,145/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,145 in Tucson, so Laredo is 10% 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 $1,380, 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 Tucson.
Planning to buy in Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
12% higher
Laredo's median income is 12% higher than Tucson
Tucson
$57,073
Laredo
Winner$63,915
Median household income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $57,073 in Tucson, so typical pay runs 12% higher in Laredo (about $6,842 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, Laredo is the stronger labor market on paper. Tucson can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
42% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 42% lower than Tucson
Tucson
156 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 156 in Tucson (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Tucson can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Tucson and Laredo are about even on typical weather.
Tucson
72°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Laredo
73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tucson averages about 72°F (78°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Tucson sits near 72°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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Tucson
On these five categories Laredo takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Tucson because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Tucson 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 and professional growth
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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.
Laredo is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 12% higher here ($63,915). Start with Laredo if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Tucson (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 46/100 in Tucson). Typical rent is $1,030 in Laredo and $1,145 in Tucson; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $115 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Typical rent stays $1,030 in Laredo and $1,145 in Tucson.
Between Tucson and Laredo, Laredo is ahead on safety — 63/100 safety versus 46/100. Lean Tucson instead when you already know the Tucson block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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