Laredo
RANK #584 / 996 NAT · #27 / 69 TX · POP 267,282
1YR FORECAST: +0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +22%
Webb County, Texas, is defined by its position on the U.S.-Mexico border, with Laredo serving as the county seat and a major inland port. The county is the only one in the United States to border three foreign states or provinces: Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas in Mexico. This geographic reality fosters a bicultural community where Spanish is widely spoken, and Mexican and American traditions blend. Outdoor recreation centers around Lake Casa Blanca International State Park, offering fishing, boating, hiking, and birdwatching opportunities. Life in Webb County is characterized by a strong sense of community and a family-oriented atmosphere. The region's economy is largely driven by international trade and transportation, with Laredo acting as a critical gateway for commerce between the U.S. and Mexico. This economic activity supports a workforce involved in logistics, warehousing, and related sectors. The area also sees investment in energy sectors, including oil and natural gas. Public education is served by districts like Laredo ISD, United ISD, and Webb CISD, which include a range of elementary, middle, and high schools.
Well below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.3x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Data City, Texas (Phases 1-3)
Energy Abundance Development Corp.
|
$5,000M | Planned |
|
Outpost Solar Farm
Repsol
|
$629M | Operating |
|
Siete Wind Project
Apex Clean Energy Holdings, LLC
|
$480M | Proposed |
|
Cedro Hill Wind Farm Repowering
Clearway Energy Group
|
$269M | Completed |
|
Corazon Solar Farm
BayWa r.e. (acquired by Eni Plenitude)
|
$265M | Operating |
|
Guajillo Battery Storage Plant
Eni Plenitude
|
$200M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Webb County scores 41/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 996 U.S. counties (#584). Median household income is $59,984 and job growth is running at +1.9%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
By national standards, Webb County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $161,000, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.37 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $964/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Employers in Webb County are hiring — job growth of +1.9% — but the population is close to flat (+0.1% YoY). Home values moved +2.5% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
Not particularly — 0.86% of Webb County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.