Laredo vs McAllen
Compare Laredo, TX and McAllen, TX on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $964/mo in Laredo and $875/mo in McAllen, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,087/mo and $977/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (224 vs 220 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Climate is a real differentiator: Laredo runs summer highs near 96°F and winter lows near 34°F, while McAllen runs 96°F and 47°F. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Laredo screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (99 vs 55/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with McAllen; if walkable daily life matters more, McAllen screens stronger on the walkability proxy (16 vs 7). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Laredo leads 28 to 25 on the daily life screen.
Both cities are close on the community screen.
$85,000 in Laredo is roughly $170,000 in McAllen using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Laredo | McAllen | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $964/mo | $875/mo | McAllen |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,087/mo | $977/mo | McAllen |
| Median home value | $161,000 | $113,000 | McAllen |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 23.5 min | Tie |
| Safety score | 44/100 | 40/100 | Laredo |
| School score | 4/10 | 4/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 7/100 | 16/100 | McAllen |
| Outdoor score | 7/10 | 6/10 | Laredo |
| Restaurants per 100k | 153.4 | 129.5 | Laredo |
| Mountain distance | 162 mi | 156 mi | McAllen |
| Coast distance | 109 mi | 51 mi | McAllen |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 99/100 | 55/100 | Laredo |
| Drought risk percentile (NRI) | 22th | 78th | Laredo |
| Ice storm risk percentile (NRI) | 27th | 63th | Laredo |
| Hurricane risk percentile (NRI) | 65th | 88th | Laredo |
What stands out
Laredo stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Laredo tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Very hot summers
McAllen stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Coast access within 51 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
McAllen tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Very hot summers
Common questions
Is Laredo cheaper than McAllen?
On public benchmarks McAllen is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $964/mo in Laredo vs $875/mo in McAllen; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,087/mo vs $977/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Laredo or McAllen safer?
Laredo screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 44/100 for Laredo and 40/100 for McAllen (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Laredo or McAllen?
School screens show 4/10 for Laredo vs 4/10 for McAllen, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Laredo and McAllen?
Laredo: summer highs near 96°F, winter lows near 34°F, disaster-risk band 1/3. McAllen: 96°F / 47°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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