City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 223 in Washington, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 243, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Laredo is cheaper. Median rent is $1,030 a month versus $1,954 in Washington.
The income gap between Washington and Laredo is significant: $109,870 median household versus $63,915. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,954 in Washington 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. Washington 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
Washington and Laredo are 1,513 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,954 a month in Washington to $1,030 a month in Laredo, down $924 a month (47%).
Median household income goes from $109,870 in Washington to $63,915 in Laredo, down $45,955 (42%).
The crime index goes from 223 in Washington to 90 in Laredo, down 133 points (60%).
The move
Laredo and Washington are 1,513 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $1,954 a month in Washington, up $924 a month (90%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $109,870 in Washington, up $45,955 (72%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 223 in Washington, up 133 points (148%).
Washington, DC
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 Washington and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
47% cheaper
Laredo rent is 47% cheaper than Washington
Washington
$1,954/mo
Laredo
Winner$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $1,030 a month in Laredo versus $1,954 in Washington, so Laredo is 47% cheaper. That's roughly $924/month back in your pocket ($11,088/year). Over five years that's $55,440 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 Washington, 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
72% higher
Washington's median income is 72% higher than Laredo
Washington
Winner$109,870
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $109,870 in Washington versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 72% higher in Washington (about $45,955 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, Washington 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
60% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 60% lower than Washington
Washington
223 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 223 in Washington (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 60% 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. Washington can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
33% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 33% more comfortable than Washington
Washington
56°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 75/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Washington averages about 56°F (63°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Washington averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 33% 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 Washington 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
Washington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 72% higher here ($109,870). Start with Washington 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 47% 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 Washington on this page's weather index by 33%. Washington 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 60% lower than Washington (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 36/100 in Washington). Typical rent is $1,030 in Laredo and $1,954 in Washington; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Washington still pays more locally ($109,870 median income vs $63,915), which can offset the lease if your field pays Washington rates.
Median income is $109,870 in Washington versus $63,915 in Laredo.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Laredo; Washington only makes sense when you have walked the Washington ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,954 rent.
Common questions
Ready to move to Laredo?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Laredo when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Washington and Laredo, plus other cities in DC and TX.
