Are you thinking of moving to Laredo, Texas? Are you wanting to consider all the pros and cons before moving there? Are you in need of a few more cons to weigh against the pros? If you are finding yourself in this situation, this article can help you learn some more cons to think about before making the decision to move there.
To learn more about some of the reasons you should not move to Laredo, Texas, keep reading.
1. High Poverty Rate
Laredo has an extremely high poverty rate. With the national average poverty rate being 10%-13%, Laredo’s poverty rate is almost double that, as it has a 25.4% poverty rate
. This means that 1/4 of the population of Laredo is experiencing poverty.
If you haven’t lived in a town with this high of a poverty rate, the state of the community may be a little different and of lesser quality than what you are used to. If you aren’t prepared to encounter homeless people asking for money on the street, don’t move to Laredo
2. Population Density Poorly Affects The Environment
While the population density may be high in Laredo and while that can create positive aspects for a community, it can also create negative effects on the local environment and its residents. While this is a major concern for the environment, this should also be a concern for how it can and will affect its residents now and in the future.
If the current and potential state of the environment is a major factor in deciding whether or not you move somewhere, Laredo isn’t the place to be if you’re looking for a flourishing environmental community. It is always possible it could improve, but it is never guaranteed.
3. There’s Not Much to Do
There is not much entertainment-wise in Laredo. If you are looking for a town full of lively activities and events, Laredo is not the city you want to move to. Because of this, most locals opt to stay at home during the weekends instead of going out.
This is great if you are also a homebody and would prefer to stay at home rather than go out on the weekends. However, if you are someone who thrives in a busy, energetic environment, especially in regard to entertainment, Laredo will not provide that type of environment for you. This is something you have to decide if it is worth giving up that type of lifestyle to live there.
4. Little to No Diversity
If you are looking for a culturally diverse place to move to, you will be sorely disappointed with the amount of diversity Laredo provides. Laredo has been said to be one of the least culturally diverse cities in the entirety of the U.S.
While this isn’t inherently a bad thing, it can be a negative aspect for those who are looking for a community with a wide diversity of cultures. This is something that won’t change drastically in the next few years if you do decide to move there. This means that you will have to decide how important living in a culturally diverse city is to you and if you’re willing to sacrifice that to live in Laredo.
5. Summers are Scorching
Everyone wants to live in a warmer climate. That is something that many people look for in a potential city to live in. While Laredo certainly delivers on that, there is such a thing as temperatures being too hot.
When summertime comes around and temperatures are well about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it can become difficult to want to be outside to either do yardwork or enjoy outdoor activities. If you are someone who frequently is outside, enjoying nature in the summer months, you may have to reconsider some of your summer activities if you choose to move to Laredo, Texas.
6. Active Drug Culture
There is a history of drug trades happening in Laredo in recent decades, specifically narcotics. While neither drug trades nor narcotics are unique to the town, it is one of the places in the U.S. that has had the most issues with drug trades and narcotic drug use.
The presence of drugs in the city and their usage isn’t the only issue, as there is also an issue with the kind of culture and environment they create within the community. They can potentially put kids in bad situations, especially at schools. If this is a major concern for you, it would be best to stay away from Laredo, Texas.
7. Age Gaps are Huge
Because there’s not much to do or look forward to in Laredo, most people move away to somewhere a little more exciting after they graduate from high school or college. That being said, if you are over 18 years old, you may feel a little older than the rest of the residents of Laredo, as 35.5% of the population is under 18 years old.
In addition to that, the majority of the population that is 22 and over is married, so if you are within that age range and single, you may feel pressured to settle down sooner than most would plan on doing. If you don’t plan on getting married anytime soon or simply aren’t having any luck when it comes to dating, your friends will likely ask a lot of awkward questions. This is something to consider before moving to Laredo.
8. Life Stages Vary
Continuing off the major age gaps, you will inevitably encounter living in Laredo, you will also find that those people that are older have little in common with someone who may not be in the same stage of life as them. Many people who live in Laredo are married and have children and are in full swing at that stage of life.
If you are not in the same stage of life, you would be fine making friends with those who are married and have children, however, that could get old really quickly if you lack some friends that are in a similar place in life as you.
9. Everyone Knows Everyone
If you are trying to get a job in the Laredo area, it would be best to have local contacts. Many potential employers know everyone in town and can make contact with just about anyone that you’ve listed as a reference on your resume.
This can make it hard to land a job if you are up against another candidate that has a leg up because they are friends with a relative or friend of the hiring manager. If you don’t have many connections within Laredo, it would be better to find work elsewhere or to wait to apply to jobs until you make connections that will help you have a better chance of getting hired.
10. New Crazes Don’t Make it to Laredo
Whenever there is a new restaurant that has become popular or a new attraction comes to Laredo, it usually doesn’t have a lot of success, which can cause a lot of those new crazes to not stay in the area very long. This leaves you with limited options for dining and entertainment in the area, which is a big deal to a lot of people.
If you are someone who loves having a large variety of options for eating out and fun activities, you may have to go out of your way to find those if you move to Laredo. A smarter option would be to live in a city that has those options available, as if you choose to move to Laredo instead, you will have to travel to another nearby city every weekend to find something fun to do.
11. Whataburger is Superior
If you are not from Texas already, you have probably heard of In ‘n Out burger, and have never heard of Whataburger. If you are from Texas, you have most likely heard of both In ‘n Out and Whataburger, but know that Whataburger is superior. If you are from Texas, you are an automatic Whataburger supporter.
If you are a diehard In ‘n Out burger fan, you may have to consider changing your ways before moving to Texas. If you feel that you could never love another burger place more than In ‘n Out, it would be best to keep your In ‘n Out and stay out of Texas.
12. BBQ is a Main Food Group
You can’t move to Texas and expect to never eat BBQ. BBQ is one of the main food groups in Texas. There are BBQ restaurants on almost every corner in Laredo, and it is safe to say that most people consider Rudy’s Country Store & Bar-B-Q to be the most popular and beloved BBQ restaurant in Laredo. If you are not a big fan of BBQ and don’t feel that you could ever learn to love it as much as the locals do, moving there will be difficult. It would be best to then move somewhere that is less passionate about BBQ.
13. Baseball is a Big Deal
If you are someone who loves baseball, Laredo will be a great place for you to live. If you are someone who couldn’t care less about baseball, you are either going to learn to love it in Laredo or become incredibly annoyed with all the diehard baseball fans surrounding you.
There is a huge baseball culture in Texas, and if you are not willing to immerse yourself in it and allow that to help you adapt to the lifestyle, you can find other cultures that are more fitting somewhere else. While baseball culture isn’t the heart of Texan life, it is a huge part of life in Laredo, and locals will expect you to embrace that as a new resident.
14. The Population is Growing Rapidly
Laredo’s population is rapidly growing as we speak. While every city is growing, it is important to note that the population has doubled since 1990. In 2000, Laredo was claimed as the fastest-growing city in the country after Las Vegas in Nevada. If you are wanting to move somewhere with a less dense population, Laredo is not the place to go. At the rate the population is growing, it is going to get crowded very quickly and won’t be the best long-term place to live in regards to how that increase in population density will affect the city.
15. Snow is Not Avoidable
While Laredo is found in the state of Texas, and while Texas does have a reputation for being quite hot and not receiving a lot of snow during the winter, that does not mean that you will escape the snow for good. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it can come as a bit of a surprise and can catch residents off guard and leave them unprepared for the snowy conditions. If you are looking to avoid the snow, you won’t be able to escape it completely in Laredo.
16. Downtown Laredo is Old
Downtown Laredo is what is called the “historic district”. This is because it houses a lot of historic buildings that originate from the town’s settlement in the 18th century. If you are not a history buff or someone who really appreciates living in a space with lots of history that is present in the heart of the city, Laredo, particularly downtown Laredo, is not the place for you. Laredo really appreciates their heritage and expects a certain level of respect from its residents. If you feel that you can’t provide that as a potential resident, that is a good indication of whether or not you should move there.
17. Farmer’s Markets are Extremely Popular
Laredo is famous for its farmer’s markets, and they are extremely popular among the locals. They happen almost every weekend, and everyone comes and sells and buys from each other to support the local businesses and farmers in the area. This is another aspect that contributes to the culture of Laredo. Locals will expect you to attend the weekly farmer’s markets and embrace them. If farmer’s markets aren’t your thing, Laredo probably shouldn’t be at the top of your list of places to move to.
