Is Fresno cheaper than Laredo?

No. Laredo is cheaper: typical rent is $1,161 a month versus $1,664 in Fresno — 30% lower. Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno compared with $60,928 in Laredo, so Fresno has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Fresno or Laredo?

Laredo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 122 in Fresno — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Fresno or Laredo?

School composites are close: A- in Fresno and A- in Laredo. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Fresno, CA vs Laredo, TX

Fresno, CA versus Laredo, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,664 a month in Fresno and $1,161 in Laredo, and median household income lands at $63,001 versus $60,928. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Fresno takes job market and weather, while Laredo takes affordability and safety. The widest gap is rent, where Laredo leads by 30% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Fresno can feel further apart than Fresno and Laredo do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Fresno and Laredo reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Fresno report Full Laredo report

Fresno, CA

Rent: $1,664/mo
Median income: $63,001
Crime index: 122
Schools: A-
Weather: 91°F

Laredo, TX

Rent: $1,161/mo
Median income: $60,928
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

30% cheaper

Laredo rent is 30% cheaper than Fresno

Fresno

$1,664/mo

Laredo

Winner

$1,161/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,161 a month in Laredo versus $1,664 in Fresno, so Laredo is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $503/month back in your pocket — $6,036/year. Over five years that's $30,180 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 Fresno, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Laredo is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

3% higher

Fresno's median income is 3% higher than Laredo

Fresno

Winner

$63,001

Laredo

$60,928

What this means for your life

Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno versus $60,928 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Fresno — about $2,073 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

11% lower crime

Laredo's crime index is 11% lower than Fresno

Fresno

122 (100 = avg)

Laredo

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Laredo's crime index is 109 versus 122 in Fresno (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Laredo. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Laredo, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Fresno. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.

School scores

Neck and neck

Fresno and Laredo are about even on school scores.

Fresno

A- · 84/100

Laredo

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Fresno, A- in Laredo). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

7% more comfortable

Fresno weather is 7% more comfortable than Laredo

Fresno

Winner

91°F typical

Laredo

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Fresno scores 7% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 91°F in Fresno and 92°F in Laredo. Fresno reads as hot, long summers; Laredo reads as hot, long summers. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Laredo's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Fresno is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Fresno

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 3% higher ($63,001), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 91°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Fresno report →

Fit check

Who should choose Laredo

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Laredo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% cheaper here at about $1,161 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 fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Fresno (109 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.

Open the Laredo report →

Bottom line

Fresno vs Laredo, called

If cost of living is your priority, Laredo is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Fresno pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Laredo offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Fresno vs Laredo FAQ

Is Fresno cheaper than Laredo?: No. Laredo is cheaper: typical rent is $1,161 a month versus $1,664 in Fresno — 30% lower. Median household income is $63,001 in Fresno compared with $60,928 in Laredo, so Fresno has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Fresno or Laredo?: Laredo is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 122 in Fresno — 11% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Fresno or Laredo?: School composites are close: A- in Fresno and A- in Laredo. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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