Is Jacksonville cheaper than Laredo?

No. Laredo is cheaper: typical rent is $1,161 a month versus $1,658 in Jacksonville — 30% lower. Median household income is $64,138 in Jacksonville compared with $60,928 in Laredo, so Jacksonville has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Jacksonville or Laredo?

Jacksonville is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 109 in Laredo — 37% 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, Jacksonville or Laredo?

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

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City comparison

Jacksonville, FL vs Laredo, TX

Jacksonville, FL 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 $1,658 a month in Jacksonville and $1,161 in Laredo, and median household income lands at $64,138 versus $60,928. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Jacksonville takes job market, safety, and weather, while Laredo takes affordability. The widest gap is crime index, where Jacksonville leads by 37% — 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 Jacksonville can feel further apart than Jacksonville and Laredo do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Jacksonville and Laredo reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Jacksonville report Full Laredo report

Jacksonville, FL

Rent: $1,658/mo
Median income: $64,138
Crime index: 69
Schools: A-
Weather: 87°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 Jacksonville

Jacksonville

$1,658/mo

Laredo

Winner

$1,161/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,161 a month in Laredo versus $1,658 in Jacksonville, so Laredo is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $497/month back in your pocket — $5,964/year. Over five years that's $29,820 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 Jacksonville, 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

5% higher

Jacksonville's median income is 5% higher than Laredo

Jacksonville

Winner

$64,138

Laredo

$60,928

What this means for your life

Median household income is $64,138 in Jacksonville versus $60,928 in Laredo, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Jacksonville — about $3,210 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

37% lower crime

Jacksonville's crime index is 37% lower than Laredo

Jacksonville

Winner

69 (100 = avg)

Laredo

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Jacksonville's crime index is 69 versus 109 in Laredo (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 37% lower in Jacksonville. 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, Jacksonville is the easier city. Laredo can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Jacksonville and Laredo are about even on school scores.

Jacksonville

A- · 84/100

Laredo

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Jacksonville, 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

29% more comfortable

Jacksonville weather is 29% more comfortable than Laredo

Jacksonville

Winner

87°F typical

Laredo

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Jacksonville scores 29% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 87°F in Jacksonville and 92°F in Laredo. Jacksonville reads as hot, long summers; Laredo reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Jacksonville is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Laredo can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Jacksonville

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 5% higher ($64,138), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 87°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Jacksonville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 37% lower than Laredo (69 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 Jacksonville report →

Fit check

Who should choose Laredo

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Laredo

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.

Open the Laredo report →

Bottom line

Jacksonville vs Laredo, called

If safety is your priority, Jacksonville is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Laredo pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Jacksonville vs Laredo FAQ

Is Jacksonville cheaper than Laredo?: No. Laredo is cheaper: typical rent is $1,161 a month versus $1,658 in Jacksonville — 30% lower. Median household income is $64,138 in Jacksonville compared with $60,928 in Laredo, so Jacksonville has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Jacksonville or Laredo?: Jacksonville is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 69 versus 109 in Laredo — 37% 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, Jacksonville or Laredo?: School composites are close: A- in Jacksonville and A- in Laredo. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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