City comparison
No. Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 326 in Wichita, and its violent crime index is 99 versus 353, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Wichita is cheaper. Median rent is $975 a month versus $1,030 in Laredo.
Safety is where Wichita and Laredo split most clearly. Laredo scores 236 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $975 in Wichita and $1,030 in Laredo.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Wichita is the easier city on typical rent, but Laredo can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Laredo has rougher pockets and Wichita has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Wichita and Laredo are 715 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $975 a month in Wichita to $1,030 a month in Laredo, up $55 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $64,620 in Wichita to $63,915 in Laredo, down $705 (1%).
The crime index goes from 326 in Wichita to 90 in Laredo, down 236 points (72%).
The move
Laredo and Wichita are 715 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,030 a month in Laredo to $975 a month in Wichita, down $55 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $63,915 in Laredo to $64,620 in Wichita, up $705 (1%).
The crime index goes from 90 in Laredo to 326 in Wichita, up 236 points (262%).
Wichita, KS
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 Wichita and Laredo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Wichita rent is 5% cheaper than Laredo
Wichita
Winner$975/mo
Laredo
$1,030/mo
Typical rent runs $975 a month in Wichita versus $1,030 in Laredo, so Wichita is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $55, or $660 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 Wichita? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Wichita's median income is 1% higher than Laredo
Wichita
Winner$64,620
Laredo
$63,915
Median household income is $64,620 in Wichita versus $63,915 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Wichita (about $705 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
72% lower crime
Laredo's crime index is 72% lower than Wichita
Wichita
326 (100 = avg)
Laredo
Winner90 (100 = avg)
Laredo's crime index is 90 versus 326 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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. Wichita can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
12% more comfortable
Laredo weather is 12% more comfortable than Wichita
Wichita
61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Laredo
Winner73°F avg · 81°F highs · comfort 100/100
Wichita averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Laredo averages about 73°F (81°F highs). Wichita averages around 61°F. Laredo sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Laredo scores 12% 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 Wichita 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
Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $975 a month. Choose Wichita if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Wichita is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($64,620). Start with Wichita 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
Pick Laredo if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Wichita on this page's weather index by 12%. Wichita 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 72% lower than Wichita (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 24/100 in Wichita). Typical rent is $1,030 in Laredo and $975 in Wichita; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (63/100 in Laredo vs 24/100 in Wichita), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $975 in Wichita and $1,030 in Laredo.
Between Wichita and Laredo, Laredo is ahead on safety — 63/100 safety versus 24/100. Lean Wichita instead when you already know the Wichita block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Wichita?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Wichita when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Wichita and Laredo, plus other cities in KS and TX.
