Locals will tell you Laredo is unlike any city you’ve been to and that you’re not going to really “get it” unless you visit. For starters, Laredo has the largest hispanic population out of any city in the US, outside of Puerto Rico, making it technically one of the least ethnically diverse cities in the US. It’s one of the oldest crossing points along the Mexico-United States border and that fact means it’s steeped in history and hispanic heritage, from the food to the shopping and even the language spoken (a true Spanglish). Grab some mariachis (breakfast tacos, not the band), attend the famous Washington’s Birthday Celebration throughout the month of February, shop at Mall del Norte, or just walk around and experience it yourself!

Note from a local about Laredo:
*In my experience, most ppl I’ve met that have relocated to Laredo end up loving it, make lasting bonds with the ppl here and never leave. There’s a common known phrase that we warn ppl that are not from Laredo and say, “just don’t drink the water”. What we mean by that is once you drink the water you’ll never leave.*


History and Heritage

Best Part About Laredo 

Laredo is very segregated, economically, especially for a smaller metro area. Most of the wealth of the city is in the gated communities, while the areas that are classified as poor have been that way for quite some time. Laredo’s poverty rate is about three times that of the national average, and locals say you can tell when you drive around the city. The good news is that the poverty rates do appear to be dropping if you look at the averages year over year. 

Here's a note from a local about the topic: 
*You can visibly see the difference between the south side and north side. Everything is catered to the rich side (north) That’s where the mall is, the bowling alley, movies, bars, fancy heb etc*




Economically segregated

Worst Part About Laredo 

Laredo is a big city with small town energy. People here love their community, their families, food, and, surprisingly, George Washington! Every year, over 400,000 people attend the George Washington’s Birthday festivities in February. You might be confused as to why a celebration honoring our first president happens on the border and you wouldn’t be the only one! The event, dubbed “GWBA” was originally planned by the patriotic Improved Order of the Red Men, local chapter Yaqui Tribe #59. The members were made up of prominent Laredoans from both Mexican and American ancestry. This event highlights the heritage and history of the town and has a huge economic impact on the city. GWBA is just one of the many things that makes Laredo Laredo. It really is a town you won’t understand unless you visit!

If you want to see what people do in Laredo check out the calendar of events: https://www.visitlaredo.com/events

Lifestyle of Laredo

Laredo is the largest inland port in the United States and one of the oldest border crossing locations in the country mainly due to its location, benefits from NAFTA, the twin assembly plants across in Nuevo Laredo, and the import export agencies expediting trade. Understandably so, the largest industries are trade, transportation, and utilities closely followed by government and education and health services. Despite having such a large proportion of its population living below the poverty line, the unemployment rates in Laredo have been steadily dropping since the mid 1990s. Despite all of the above, it is really important to note that women moving to Laredo are in for a shock when they find out that the city has one of the largest gender pay gaps in the country, according to a study from NerdWallet.


Workstyle of Laredo

Residents of Laredo say that the younger generations of Laredo are steadily revitalizing the city and they’re excited for that change. The city has a chance of becoming an amazing place to live for young professionals and families and is constantly striving to improve. If you’re looking for a town full of heritage, opportunities for affordable housing, and you know a decent amount of Spanish, Laredo might be for you. 


Talkin 'Bout My Generation

Why Move Now?

Laredo is a great chance for young professionals to purchase their first home and branch out on their own. Laredo offers a lot of amenities close by so you won’t have to travel very far for groceries and daily needs. Check out these neighborhoods that offer great sized homes and even apartments!
- Salinas Key
- Shiloh
- Tiara de San Isidrio


Young Professionals

Salinas Key

In Laredo, there are plenty of planned communities to meet the needs of a growing family. In these areas, you’ll find tree-lined streets, sidewalks for walks with the dogs, stucco architecture and enough room for the whole family!
- Plantation
- Regency
- San Isidro Taos


Young Families

Plantation

If you’re a family looking for a little bit more square footage without sacrificing the yard and garage space, look no further than these neighborhoods. Some of these areas feature the added security of gated driveways or entire neighborhoods. Check out Winfield below if you’re looking to stay close to some great schools!
- Lakeside
- Winfield
- Plantation

Established Families

Lakeside

Laredo

**Thinking of moving to Laredo but family keeps telling me it’s too dangerous of a city. Can anyone provide input on this?**

Where did they get their information from? Because Laredo is pretty damn safe, (except for many traffic incidents.) There are a lot of problems on the Mexico side of the border, but almost all of that doesn't leech over.

"is it common to see crime happening every day?" No, not at all. Both petty or major crime activity rarely ever happens, and if it does happen: its usually hyper-localized to like a single store or house, and its over within hours. People aren't doing drive-bys or shooting up neighborhoods. There's almost no petty gang activity, and you wont see groups of people causing trouble either. What you will see is people jogging, walking, and biking all day long without having to worry. Kids walking home from schools every day. Plenty of dog walkers. Just everyone living a modest quiet life here.

You could totally start a family here and not worry. It is very safe, (maybe a little too safe, where is that hint of danger that makes life exciting?); You might be a bit disappointed that there is no actual night life. Everything closes at around 10pm, and everyone goes home. There are bars and some clubs open until 2am, but that's about it.

**Thinking of moving to Laredo but family keeps telling me it’s too dangerous of a city. Can anyone provide input on this?**

In my experience, most ppl I’ve met that have relocated to Laredo end up loving it, make lasting bonds with the ppl here and never leave. There’s a common known phrase that we warn ppl that are not from Laredo and say, “just don’t drink the water”. What we mean by that is once you drink the water you’ll never leave.

If your concern is crime rate, that’s a legitimate concern and every town big or small has it. Just like any other US city, there are parts of town you would want to avoid. Learn those parts of town and your days will be as right as rain.

**What strikes first time visitors as special or unusual when they arrive in Laredo, TX?**

Perhaps the most striking quirk first timers find when they visit Laredo is just how many people still speak Spanish openly. Depending on which side of town you’re on, you can walk into any store and be greeted in Spanish. This is due in no small part to Laredo being a border town. I would recommend people visiting learn a least a little Spanish just in case you happen to find yourself in a situation where it’ll be needed. However for the most part, English should be suffice.
The second striking quirk about Laredo is the heat. There is a time, from about the beginning of July to the middle of September, where the temperature is nothing but triple digits. If you car has no AC (as I have experienced in the past), bless your soul, cause you going to have a rough time getting around during the day.
The third quirk is a personal annoyance I have on my part. There is an intersection between McPherson Rd, and Jacaman Rd which ALWAYS piles up with traffic around the hours of 3:30pm to 7:00 PM. I try to avoid McPherson at all costs, since it is the preferred street of many Laredoans to go to and from the north side towards central Laredo, opting to take Springfield Ave instead. With that said, sometimes McPherson is unavoidable.

**What is Laredo, TX known for?**

Being born and raised from Laredo, Texas here are my top 10:

1) Texas city under 7 flags.
2) Villa de San Agustin (1st city name originated from Spain in the 1700's).
3) Busiest inland port (US & Mexico) for import/export.
4) "Mariachi's" (not a band but a local taco).
5) Friday night lights, local high school football games.
6) Extreme dry heat.
7) Cowboys and ranches (statue at Laredo International Airport).
8) Laredo Bucks (hockey team).
9) United vs Alexander High School (go longhorns!!) :)
10) A growing city that continues to evolve in culture and economics.

Laredo, Texas