The Laredo metro is home to 267,731 people (down 1.6% over five years), with a median household income of $62,506. Typical rent of $1,129/month works out to 21.7% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Laredo's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 22.4% |
| Transportation & utilities | 15.8% |
| Retail trade | 12.7% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 9.0% |
| Professional & management | 8.9% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 21.7% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Laredo market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,129/month suggests a household income around $45,000/year. The metro's median household income is $62,506.
By workforce share: Education & health care (22.4%), Transportation & utilities (15.8%), Retail trade (12.7%) (Census ACS 5-year).