City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,052 in Tulsa.
Safety is where Tulsa and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 146 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,030 in Laredo.
Laredo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Tulsa 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 Tulsa has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tulsa and Laredo are 632 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $22 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $63,915 in Laredo, up $4,077 (7%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 90 in Laredo, down 146 points (62%).
The move
Laredo and Tulsa are 632 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, up $22 a month (2%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $4,077 (6%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 236 in Tulsa, up 146 points (162%).
Tulsa, 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 Tulsa and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
2% cheaper
Laredo rent is 2% cheaper than Tulsa
Tulsa
$1,052/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,052 in Tulsa, so Laredo is 2% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $22, or $264 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
Laredo's median income is 7% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Laredo
Winner$63,915
Median household income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Laredo (about $4,077 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
62% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 62% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 62% 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. Tulsa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 9% more comfortable than Tulsa
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 9% 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 Tulsa if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Tulsa
On these five categories Laredo takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Tulsa because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Tulsa 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 plus year-round outdoor access
Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 2% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 7% higher ($63,915), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Laredo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 62% lower than Tulsa (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 34/100 in Tulsa). With rent tied near $1,030/month, do not assume either lease buys the calmer blocks.
Median income is $63,915 in Laredo versus $59,838 in Tulsa — with rent matched, the paycheck gap matters more.
Laredo is ahead on safety (63/100 vs 34/100); Tulsa is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,052/month rent plus $59,838 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Weather averages land near 62°F in Tulsa and 73°F in Laredo.
Common questions
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