Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US metro and micro areas.

Safety69#289/924
Economy12#818/925
Housing20#740/925
Health63#339/925
Healthcare2#903/923
Environment2#898/917
Education16#778/925
Infrastructure19#752/925
Community19#750/925
Leisure & amenities7#859/925

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Laredo, TX metro area ranks highest and lowest among US metro and micro areas (score = percentile, 100 = best).

Strengths

Injury deaths · low49 /100k
99/100Texas 69 /100kUnited States 87 /100k2019-2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Suicide rate · low5.9 /100k
99/100Texas 14.4 /100kUnited States 14.1 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
Drug overdose deaths · low5.2 /100k
97/100Texas 13.4 /100kUnited States 18.4 /100kMar 2025–Feb 2026Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
Firearm deaths · low5.6 /100k
97/100Texas 13.7 /100kUnited States 12.1 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
Depression · low18.8%
96/100Texas 21.2%United States 20.7%2023Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAggregated from counties
Access to exercise opportunities · high92.2%
93/100Texas 82.3%United States 84.5%2022 & 2024University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties

Weaknesses

Uninsured residents (under 65) · high29.8%
0/100Texas 19.1%United States 9.8%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B27010
Hot days · high168 days
1/100Texas 111 daysUnited States 42 days2016-2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental InformationAggregated from counties
High school diploma or higher · low70.9%
1/100Texas 86.0%United States 89.6%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B15003
Physical inactivity · high40.0%
1/100Texas 29.6%United States 26.5%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Mammography screening · low28.0%
1/100Texas 42.0%United States 46.0%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties
Poor or fair health · high32.0%
1/100Texas 23.2%United States 19.9%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteAggregated from counties

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

PopulationRising
267,336 (2020) → 281,224 (2025)
+5.2%5 yearsUS 331,578,104 → 341,784,857
Drought exposureWorsening
54% (2021) → 77% (Oct 2025–Sep 2026)
+23 pts5 yearsUS 40% → 43%
Broadband subscriptionsImproving
66.9% (2015-2019) → 86.8% (2020-2024)
+20 pts5 yearsCensus table B28002US 82.7% → 91.0%
Mental health providersImproving
39 /100k (2021) → 65 /100k (2025)
+64%4 yearsUS 282 /100k → 348 /100k
Drug overdose deathsImproving
11.6 /100k (2021) → 5.2 /100k (Mar 2025–Feb 2026)
−55%5 yearsUS 30.8 /100k → 18.4 /100k
Homicide rateImproving
5.2 /100k (2021) → 2.9 /100k (May 2025–Apr 2026)
−44%5 yearsUS 7.8 /100k → 4.8 /100k

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Laredo, TX metro area improved on 19 of 32 measures with a comparison and declined on 5. 4 moved within the margin of error and 4 barely changed.

Earlier period
Latest period
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among metro and micro areas: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts. Periods differ by measure (most compare 2015-2019 with 2020-2024); each row names its own in its tooltip and in the table.

Improved19

Broadband+20 points66.9% → 86.8%
Poverty−6.2 points27.5% → 21.3%
Property tax−0.4 points2.01% → 1.58%
Inequality−0.0270.479 → 0.453
Child poverty−8.8 points37.8% → 29.0%

Declined5

Libraries−16%0.3 /10k → 0.2 /10k
Arts & recreation−17%2.4 /10k → 2.0 /10k
Pharmacies−16%1.0 /10k → 0.8 /10k
Transit use−0.5 points1.2% → 0.7%
Price / income+0.3×2.7× → 3.0×

All 32 measures

Change of every measure of Laredo, TX metro area between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Arts, entertainment and recreation	2.4 /10k2020	2.0 /10k2025	−17%	Declined	7%
Average commute time	21.3 min2015-2019	22.1 min2020-2024	+0.7 min	Within the margin of error	38%
Average weekly wage	$7622020	$9162025	+20%	Improved	23%
Bachelor's degree or higher	18.9%2015-2019	21.4%2020-2024	+2.4 points	Improved	42%
Broadband subscriptions	66.9%2015-2019	86.8%2020-2024	+20 points	Improved	97%
Child poverty rate	37.8%2015-2019	29.0%2020-2024	−8.8 points	Improved	93%
Distance to an airport	120 mi2020	120 mi2025	+0 mi	Little change	22%
Drug overdose deaths	18.3 /100k2020	5.2 /100kMar 2025–Feb 2026	−72%	Improved	97%
Effective property tax rate	2.01%2015-2019	1.58%2020-2024	−0.4 points	Improved	97%
Firearm deaths	7.5 /100k2020	5.6 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	−25%	Improved	88%
Grocery stores	0.6 /10k2020	0.6 /10k2025	+1.4%	Little change	56%
Gyms and fitness centers	1.0 /10k2020	1.0 /10k2025	−4.9%	Little change	30%
High school diploma or higher	67.6%2015-2019	70.9%2020-2024	+3.4 points	Improved	86%
Home price to income ratio	2.7×2015-2019	3.0×2020-2024	+0.3×	Declined	69%
Homicide rate	4.9 /100k2020	2.9 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	−41%	Improved	68%
Income adjusted for local prices	$37,9742019	$50,8302024	+34%	Improved	64%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.4792015-2019	0.4532020-2024	−0.027	Improved	93%
Median household income	$46,4752015-2019	$63,0582020-2024	+36%	Improved	88%
New business applications	9.3 /1k2020	11.4 /1k2025	+22%	Improved	18%
Pharmacies	1.0 /10k2020	0.8 /10k2025	−16%	Declined	31%
Poverty rate	27.5%2015-2019	21.3%2020-2024	−6.2 points	Improved	99%
Property crime rate	1,499 /100k2020	1,142 /100k2025	−24%	Improved	30%
Public libraries	0.3 /10k2019	0.2 /10k2024	−16%	Declined	6%
Public transit commuters	1.2%2015-2019	0.7%2020-2024	−0.5 points	Declined	37%
Rent as share of income	32.1%2015-2019	32.3%2020-2024	+0.2 points	Within the margin of error	56%
Rent-burdened households	53.7%2015-2019	55.1%2020-2024	+1.4 points	Within the margin of error	45%
Restaurants and bars	6.2 /10k2020	6.3 /10k2025	+0.2%	Little change	46%
Suicide rate	8.6 /100k2020	5.9 /100kMay 2025–Apr 2026	−31%	Improved	93%
Traffic deaths	11.0 /100k2015-2019	8.3 /100k2020-2024	−24%	Improved	91%
Unemployment rate	8.8%2020	4.6%2025	−4.2 points	Improved	84%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	30.0%2015-2019	29.8%2020-2024	−0.2 points	Within the margin of error	50%
Violent crime rate	342 /100k2020	320 /100k2025	−6.4%	Improved	36%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 708 metro and micro areas that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: Regional Economic Accounts; Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; Mapping Injury, Overdose, and Violence; American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates; Business Formation Statistics; Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Return A master files; Public Libraries Survey; Fatality Analysis Reporting System; Distance to airports and intercity rail. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 925 metro and micro areas that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Metro and micro areas like Laredo, TX metro area five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Laredo, TX metro area in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Laredo, TX metro area itself moved +3.9 points in standing on average over the same 30 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

269,294 residents

Men
Women

80 and over
70–79
60–69
50–59
40–49
30–39
20–29
10–19
Under 10

Share of all residents, each sex

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Under 10 women (−1.0 points).

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B01001View table on data.census.gov

Race and Hispanic origin

269,294 residents

Laredo, TX metro area
United States share

White3.6%9,632
Black0.4%1,177
Hispanic or Latino95%255,830

Education

154,265 residents (±144)

Laredo, TX metro area
United States share

No high school diploma29%44,823
High school or GED22%34,401
Some college20%30,542

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

81,373 households (±678)

Laredo, TX metro area
United States share

Under $25k21%16,750
$25k–50k21%16,867
$50k–75k16%13,082
$75k–100k15%11,934
$100k–150k16%12,721
$150k–200k7.1%5,760
$200k or more5.2%4,259

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Under $25k (−8.8 points).

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B19001View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

81,373 households (±678)

Laredo, TX metro area
United States share

Own65%52,630
Rent35%28,743

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Rent (−2.5 points).

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B25003View table on data.census.gov

Rent paid

26,579 households (±1,071)

Laredo, TX metro area
United States share

Under $75019%5,041
$750–1,00028%7,563
$1,000–1,50037%9,898

Home values

52,630 homes (±1,100)

Laredo, TX metro area
United States share

Under $150k35%18,304
$150k–250k37%19,303
$250k–400k22%11,328
$400k–750k

Age of homes

88,176 homes (±90)

Laredo, TX metro area
United States share

2010 or later20%17,243
2000–200924%20,899
1980–199933%29,256

Size of homes

88,176 homes (±90)

Laredo, TX metro area
United States share

Studio3.4%2,958
1 bedroom7.3%6,453
2 bedrooms22%19,811
3 bedrooms

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

114,717 workers (±1,745)

Laredo, TX metro area
United States share

Drive alone79%90,979
Carpool11%13,165
Public transit0.7%†827
Walk1.2%1,321
Bike0.0%†55
Work from home5.8%6,684
Other1.5%†1,686

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Work from home (+3.0 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B08301View table on data.census.gov

Time to get to work

108,033 workers (±1,940)

Laredo, TX metro area
United States share

Under 15 min30%32,021
15–29 min46%49,972
30–44 min16%17,163

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The 10 largest occupations in Laredo, TX employ 35,740 people. 10 pay a median below the US median.

Above the US median
Below the US median

The largest occupations in Laredo, TX by employment, with median annual pay and how it compares with the United States
Occupation	Jobs	Median pay	vs USCompared with the US	Concentration
Home Health and Personal Care Aides8,140 jobs	8,140	$23,510US $35,800	−34%	2.69×
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers5,460 jobs	5,460	$49,010US $58,640	−16%	3.76×
Fast Food and Counter Workers4,620 jobs	4,620	$23,030US $31,200	−26%	1.7×
Retail Salespersons3,240 jobs	3,240	$27,530US $35,410	−22%	1.18×
General and Operations Managers2,780 jobs	2,780	$78,640US $105,770	−26%	1.13×
Cashiers2,540 jobs	2,540	$26,970US $32,880	−18%	1.17×
Office Clerks, General2,450 jobs	2,450	$30,640US $45,010	−32%	1.41×
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand2,430 jobs	2,430	$32,480US $40,240	−19%	1.17×
Customer Service Representatives2,060 jobs	2,060	$34,420US $44,770	−23%	1.13×
Stockers and Order Fillers2,020 jobs	2,020	$35,410US $37,330	−5%	1.01×

Look up any occupation

Search more than 800 occupations and see what they pay in Laredo, TX.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025-05 (all industries and ownerships) bls.gov/oes

Reference period: 2025-05. BLS publishes metro areas, states and the nation (not counties or cities), so a county or city page shows its metro area.
Pay is not adjusted for the cost of living, so a higher median does not mean more purchasing power.
BLS caps the highest wages it publishes: where a figure is shown as “or more”, the real value is at least that much.
Some occupations (teachers, performers) are published by the hour or school year and shown here as an annual figure.

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

Laredo, TX has 5,840 employer establishments, 215 for every 10,000 residents (0.86× the US rate of 248), with 83,434 paid employees at an average annual pay of $38,101. The Census Bureau also counts 34,347 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 5,840; 34,347 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 215; US 248
Paid employees: 83,434
Average annual pay: $38,101; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Laredo, TX by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Truck transportation	723	26.6	5.26×More than typical	6,188	$54,358	4,580
Restaurants and other eating places	410	15.1	0.82×About typical	9,607	$18,627	370
Ambulatory health care services	397	14.6	0.70×Fewer than typical	6,670	$38,493	772
Limited-service restaurants	200	7.4	0.92×About typical	5,416	$17,462	95
Lessors of real estate	195	7.2	0.58×Fewer than typical	636	$42,145	2,109
Specialty trade contractors	167	6.1	0.40×Fewer than typical	1,321	$43,642	2,822
Clothing and accessories stores	160	5.9	1.62×More than typical	2,252	$19,740	383
Full-service restaurants	154	5.7	0.74×Fewer than typical	3,529	$20,372	155
Offices of physicians	136	5	0.77×Fewer than typical	1,310	$62,527	118
Accounting, tax preparation and payroll services	124	4.6	1.12×About typical	709	$34,415	443
Automotive repair and maintenance	115	4.2	0.84×About typical	1,285	$51,065	1,053
Management, scientific and technical consulting	102	3.8	0.56×Fewer than typical	397	$59,401	622

Federal contract spending

In FY2026, federal agencies obligated $2B on contracts performed in Laredo, TX metro area: $6,964 per resident (US $1,994).

Obligations: $2B; +2,229% vs FY2025
Per resident: $6,964; US $1,994
Sole-source: 0.6%; US 30%
Single offer: 3.1%; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

U.S. Customs and Border Protection$1.9B96%
U.S. Marshals Service$49.5M2.5%
Public Buildings Service$19.3M1.0%
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement$7.9M0.4%
Federal Acquisition Service$3.7M0.2%
Department of the Army$3.7M0.2%
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management$2.3M0.1%
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service$192.2K0.0%

Top recipients

SOUTHWEST VALLEY CONSTRUCTORS CO$521.5M27%
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY$512.3M26%
CLARK CONSTRUCTION GROUP LLC$455.6M23%
SPENCER CONSTRUCTION LLC$269.2M14%
THE GEO GROUP, INC.$57.4M2.9%

Spending by fiscal year

84.4MFY2017
74MFY2018
98.2MFY2019
883.7MFY2020
-65.5MFY2021
-271.3MFY2022
212MFY2023
544.8M

Top industries (NAICS)

Nonresidential building construction · 2362$1.8B90%
Justice, public order, and safety activities · 9221$57.4M2.9%
Architectural, engineering, and related services · 5413$56.2M2.9%
Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers · 4234$17.7M0.9%
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services · 5416$16.5M0.8%
Highway, street, and bridge construction · 2373

Largest awards

DETENTION SERVICES - SAN DIEGO$805.7M
THE GEO GROUP, INC.· Webb County, TX· Professional services· Oct 21, 2016 – Sep 21, 2026· DJJODT7C0003
LRT-3 VERTICAL BARRIER CONSTRUCTION PROJECT$523.9M
SOUTHWEST VALLEY CONSTRUCTORS CO· Webb County, TX· Construction & real property· Mar 5, 2026 – Mar 13, 2026· 70B01C26F00000138
BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION- VERTICAL BARRIER, LAREDO TEXAS SECTOR, LRT-4$512.3M
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY· Webb County, TX· Construction & real property· Mar 9, 2026 – Mar 9, 2026· 70B01C26F00000165
THIS TASK ORDER IS FOR A DESIGN BUILD PROJECT IN LAREDO, TX

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026.

Federal grants & assistance

Grants, loans (counted at their subsidy cost), direct payments and insurance, by fiscal year of the action (USAspending.gov, FABS). Reported apart from contracts and never added to them.

In FY2026, federal agencies obligated $1.3B in grants, loans, direct payments and insurance for Laredo, TX metro area: $4,638 per resident (US $12,955).

Assistance · FY2026: $1.3B; +28% vs FY2025
Per resident: $4,638; US $12,955
Loan face value: $44.3M; lent or guaranteed
To individuals: 0.2%; counted, never named

Top programs

96.002 · Social Security Retirement Insurance$479.1M37%
20.279 · National Highway Performance Program (NHPP)$290.1M22%

Counties in Laredo, TX

Whole counties, as the U.S. Office of Management and Budget delineates the area. Federal spending below is the exact sum of these counties.

Webb CountyCentral county13281,224

Principal cities

The cities the area is named for.

LaredoPrincipal city257,619

Largest cities and towns

By population, for places with most of their residents in the area.

Other metro and micro areas in Texas

Areas based in Texas, best score first.

Neighboring metro and micro areas

Places that share a border, best score first.

Similar metro and micro areas

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

Mapping Injury, Overdose, and ViolenceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2026-10-01
PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Daily county PM2.5 and ozone (EPA downscaler model)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · release 2022
Care Compare: Hospital General Information and Timely and Effective CareCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services · release 2026-07-22
Distance to airports and intercity railFederal Aviation Administration · Bureau of Transportation Statistics · U.S. Census Bureau · release 2025+amtrak-2026-04-23
Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Return A master filesFederal Bureau of Investigation · release 2025
Public Libraries SurveyInstitute of Museum and Library Services · release FY2024
U.S. Drought Monitor county statisticsNational Drought Mitigation Center (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), USDA and NOAA · release 2026-09-29
Fatality Analysis Reporting SystemNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration · release 2024
nClimGrid-Daily county averagesNOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · release 2025
Regional Economic AccountsU.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · release 2024
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2026 Q1
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Building Permits SurveyU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-08
Business Formation StatisticsU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-10-01
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Alternative Fuels Data Center station locatorU.S. Department of Energy · release 2026-10
Election Administration and Voting SurveyU.S. Election Assistance Commission · release 2024
Air Quality Index Annual Summary by CountyU.S. Environmental Protection Agency · release 2025
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement
Zillow Home Value Index, Observed Rent Index and affordabilityZillow Research · release 2026-08

JSON · /api/v1/places/M29700

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends

What changed in five years

Improved19

Declined5

Metro and micro areas like Laredo, TX metro area five years ago that improved

Who lives here

Age and sex

Race and Hispanic origin

Education

Income

Household income

Homes

Owners and renters

Rent paid

Home values

Age of homes

Size of homes

Getting to work

How people get to work

Time to get to work

Jobs and pay

Look up any occupation

Local businesses

Federal contract spending

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

Top industries (NAICS)

Largest awards

Federal grants & assistance

Top programs

Counties in Laredo, TX

Principal cities

Largest cities and towns

Other metro and micro areas in Texas

Neighboring metro and micro areas

Similar metro and micro areas

Data and sources

Improved19

Declined5

Household income

Age and sex

Race and Hispanic origin

Education

Owners and renters

Rent paid

Home values

Age of homes

Size of homes

How people get to work

Time to get to work

Look up any occupation

Top buying agencies

Top recipients

Spending by fiscal year

Top industries (NAICS)

Largest awards

Top programs

What was bought

Top recipients (organizations)

Top agencies

By type

Assistance by fiscal year

County aggregates