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Laredo vs McAllen

Laredo, Texas versus McAllen, Texas: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Laredo

Mixed · objective livability48/100

McAllen

Solid · objective livability52/100

McAllen edges out Laredo on overall objective livability (52 vs 48 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorLaredoMcAllen
Affordability
Median Household Income$61k$56k
Cost of Living$47k$41k
Home Value$164k$159k
Monthly Rent$968$955
Monthly Owner Costs$2k$2k
Property Tax Rate2.03%1.88%
Income Tax0.00%0.00%
Sales Tax8.20%8.20%
Estimated total tax burden8.18%8.01%
Unemployment5.9%5.4%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)57°F62°F
Summer Temp (Jul)88°F88°F
Annual Precipitation19.7 in27.4 in
Annual Snowfall0.1 in0.2 in
Sunny Days262 days272 days
Summer Humidity73°F73°F
Comfortable Days118 days119 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk32.548.7
Air Quality41 AQI45 AQI
School Quality44.850.9
Violent Crime1315/100k1841/100k
Property Crime1298/100k1952/100k
Community
Population255,293142,722
Median Age29.332.9
Racial Diversity0.560.63
Male/Female Ratio0.980.97
Political LeaningD+24D+17
White (%)3.2%8.2%
Black (%)0.4%0.6%
Hispanic (%)95.5%87.0%
Asian (%)0.5%2.8%
Other / Multiracial (%)0.4%1.4%
Getting Around
Commute Time21 min21 min
Walkability7.7/208.6/20
Airport Distance151 mi225 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access81.9%87.9%
Amenities Nearby8.309.25
Park & Nature AccessLimitedGood

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is Laredo or McAllen more affordable?
McAllen has the lower cost of living: its index is $41k, compared with Laredo's $47k and McAllen's $41k. Median rent is $968 in Laredo versus $955 in McAllen.
Is Laredo or McAllen safer?
Laredo has the lower violent crime rate. Laredo reports 1315/100k and McAllen reports 1841/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Laredo or McAllen?
The median home value is $164k in Laredo and $159k in McAllen, so homes are more affordable in McAllen.
See each on the map

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