Neighborhood in Laredo, Webb County

Living in El Tonto, Laredo

C-

47th of 61areas in Laredo
Overall score 39 of 100 vs Texas neighborhoods
Laredo overall: B-

El Tonto is a neighborhood in Laredo, TX, home to about 1,500 people. It gets a C-, just below the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 47th of 61 areas we score in Laredo. It does best on getting around and worst on internet access.

  • Affordable
  • Lots of parks
  • Jobs and income scores low (1 of 100)
  • Education levels scores low (1 of 100)

Closest everyday places

Grocery store0.6 mi
Pharmacy0.8 mi
Park0.2 mi
Cafe0.6 mi
Restaurant0.4 mi
Gym0.2 mi
Hospital or urgent care0.8 mi
Childcare0.6 mi
Libraryunder 0.1 mi

Straight-line distance from the middle of where people live. Overture Maps.

Population
1,520
Median rent
$710
Median home value
$81,000
Household income
$30,700
Average commute
24 min
Homes owned
23%
Loading map

What it's like to live in El Tonto

El Tonto is a neighborhood in Laredo with about 1,500 residents, older homes (median year built 1951), mostly rented (77% of homes) and 27% of households with children.

It grades C- against every neighborhood in Texas and ranks 47th of 61 areas in Laredo, which grades B- overall.

Pros of living in El Tonto

  • Cheaper rent than the city. Median rent is $710, 31% lower than the Laredo median.
  • Well-rated schools nearby. 3 of the 3 closest public schools are rated A or B.
  • Groceries close by. The nearest grocery store is about 0.6 miles from the middle of the neighborhood.
  • Parks within walking distance. The closest park is about 0.2 miles away.

Cons of living in El Tonto

  • Higher poverty. 52% of residents live below the poverty line, against 21% across Laredo.
  • Higher unemployment. 24% of the labor force is out of work, against 5.4% across Laredo.
  • Natural hazard risk. FEMA rates the risk of heat waves as very high in this part of town.

El Tonto report card

Each grade compares El Tonto with every neighborhood in Texas. Safety is not graded for single neighborhoods because police report crime for the whole city.

  • Cost of living: grade B+

    Median rent $710, homes cost 2.6x income.

    77 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Jobs and income: grade F

    Median household income $30,700, 24% unemployed.

    1 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Schools: grade B

    Nearby schools average 86 of 100 on the state rating.

    72 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Safety: no grade

    Citywide, 316 violent crimes per 100k, 1,157 property crimes per 100k.

    No score vs TX areas

  • Errands and things to do: grade B

    Most everyday stores and services within a mile of homes.

    68 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Getting around: grade B+

    Average commute 24 min, 7.4% work from home.

    78 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Education levels: grade F

    3.5% have a bachelor’s degree.

    1 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Health: grade F

    48% of adults uninsured.

    4 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Home ownership: grade F

    23% of homes owner-occupied.

    1 of 100 vs TX areas

  • Internet access: grade F

    47% of homes have broadband.

    1 of 100 vs TX areas

El Tonto compared with Laredo

Better than Laredo

  • Median rent: $71031% lower than Laredo ($1,030)
  • Home value to income: 2.6x12% lower than Laredo (3.0x)
  • Workers who walk, bike or take transit: 5.1%3 points higher than Laredo (2.0%)

Worse than Laredo

  • Homes owned by the people living in them: 23%41 points lower than Laredo (64%)
  • Homes with broadband internet: 47%40 points lower than Laredo (87%)
  • People below the poverty line: 52%32 points higher than Laredo (21%)

Closest public schools

Texas Education Agency 2025 ratings. Check the attendance zone for any address with the district.

  • BDovalina ElementaryElementary, Laredo ISD0.5 mi
  • BChristen MiddleMiddle, Laredo ISD1.1 mi
  • AMartin High SchoolHigh, Laredo ISD1.2 mi

Cost of living in El Tonto

Median rent in El Tonto is $710 a month, 31% lower than the Laredo median. A household would need about $28,000 a year to keep that rent at 30% of income.

The median home is worth $81,000, 58% lower than the Laredo median, which means a monthly payment of about $618 with property tax at today's mortgage rates.

MeasureHereLaredoTexas
Median rent31% lower than Laredo$710$1,030$1,403
Median home value58% lower than Laredo$81,000$193,500$283,800
Home value to income12% lower than Laredo2.6x3.0x3.6x
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent7 points higher than Laredo62%55%52%
Homes owned by the people living in them41 points lower than Laredo23%64%63%
Vacant homes24 points higher than Laredo31%7.2%9.4%
Median year homes were builtAbout the same as Laredo195119971992

Monthly cost to buy a median home

$618
Mortgage payment
$443
Property tax
$174
Median rent, for comparison
$710

Based on a $81,000 home in El Tonto, 20% down and a 30-year loan at 7.28% (Freddie Mac average, week of 2026-10-01). Property tax is the median for the surrounding Census tract, or the county where that is not published. Insurance and fees are not included.

Work, income and getting around

MeasureHereLaredoTexas
Median household income52% lower than Laredo$30,700$63,915$78,476
Unemployment rate18 points higher than Laredo24%5.4%5.3%
People below the poverty line32 points higher than Laredo52%21%14%
Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher19 points lower than Laredo3.5%22%34%
Average commute9% higher than Laredo24 min22 min27 min
Workers who work from home2 points higher than Laredo7.4%5.9%14%
Workers who walk, bike or take transit3 points higher than Laredo5.1%2.0%2.6%
Homes with broadband internet40 points lower than Laredo47%87%91%

Natural hazard risk

FEMA National Risk Index for the Census tracts in this area.

  • River floodingHigh
  • HurricanesHigh
  • TornadoesModerate
  • HailHigh
  • Heat wavesVery high
  • WildfiresLow
  • Winter stormsModerate
  • Strong windModerate

Who lives in El Tonto

Under 1835%
18 to 3429%
35 to 6421%
65 and over15%
Race and ethnicity
White0%
Hispanic or Latino100%
Black0%
Asian0%
Other or more than one race0%

Shown for information only. It is never part of any grade.

Other neighborhoods in Laredo

  1. 1A+LakesideMedian rent $980
  2. 2A+AlexanderMedian rent $1,070
  3. 3A+East LaredoMedian rent $980
  4. 4ANorthwest Laredo
  5. 5A-Sierra Vista
  6. 6A-WinfieldMedian rent $2,140
  7. 7A-PlantationMedian rent $1,600
  8. 8B+Del MarMedian rent $1,220

Similar neighborhoods in other cities

Areas elsewhere in Texas with the closest mix of grades.

  1. CUrbana VistaEdinburg
  2. B-RiversideBrownsville
  3. C+Central HarlingenHarlingen

Questions about El Tonto

Is El Tonto a good place to live?

El Tonto is a neighborhood in Laredo, TX, home to about 1,500 people. It gets a C-, just below the middle of Texas neighborhoods, and ranks 47th of 61 areas we score in Laredo. It does best on getting around and worst on internet access.

How much does it cost to live in El Tonto?

Median rent in El Tonto is $710 a month, 31% lower than the Laredo median. The median home is worth $81,000, 58% lower than the Laredo median. A median home costs 2.6x the median household income, compared with 3.0x across Laredo.

What schools serve El Tonto?

The closest rated public schools are Dovalina Elementary (elementary, rated B), Christen Middle (middle, rated B) and Martin High School (high, rated A). School zones can differ from the closest school, so check with the district.

This area is built from 1 Census block group closest to the El Tonto name on the map, so its edges are approximate. Sources: US Census Bureau 2020-2024 ACS 5-year, CDC PLACES 2025, Texas Education Agency, FEMA National Risk Index, Overture Maps. How we grade.