Laredo receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Longview
Laredo
Opportunity
34 · Bottom 12%
vs43 · Bottom 24%
Growth
42 · Bottom 37%
vs61 · Top 33%
Climate
70 · Top 39%
vs67 · Top 49%
Physical resilience
67 · Top 34%
vs70 · Top 29%
Housing affordability
98 · Top 39%
vs96 · Top 43%
Access
98 · Top 7%
vs86 · Top 32%
Economic stability
42 · Bottom 38%
vs47 · Bottom 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Longview | Laredo | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 291,044 | 269,294 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $66,647 | $63,058 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,434 | $24,920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 109/sq mi | 80/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $184,400 | $189,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,060 | $1,027 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.4% | 64.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.9% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 21.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 21.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 271 | 1,142 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.9 | 4.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -3.6% | -21.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 94°F | 100°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 47°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.3" | 21.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 4 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 23.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.1 | 30.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Longview
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, hail.
Laredo
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Longview, TX Metro Area · Laredo, TX Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology