Meridian, Idaho
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Meridian, ID.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Meridian, ID?
Meridian, ID has a MapsToIt housing cost index of 144 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline; 100 = U.S. avg). Median home value is about $485,000 and median rent about $1,714, against national ACS medians of $303,400 and $1,348. Median household income is roughly $98,686. Typical commute is 18 minutes; summer highs average 88°F. Violent-offense rates run about 159.2 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 144U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $485,000U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,714U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $98,686U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.3%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 18 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 159.2per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 88°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Meridian compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 139,740City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $98,686Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year26% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 144ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year44% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $485,000City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year60% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,714City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year27% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.3%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · August 20260.9 pts below U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 18 min28% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime rate
- 159.2per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)72% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 1068.4per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)64% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 88°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (87°F)Catalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 27°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 11.5 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals65% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 276As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (268)Catalog avg 268
Population trend
Meridian grew 80.5% from 77,428 in 2010 to 139,740 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Meridian, ID expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Meridian's housing cost index is 144 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($485,000 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,714 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 144 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $485,000 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,714 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Meridian, ID?
Typical ownership costs center near $485,000, while median gross rent is about $1,714 a month. Against a median household income of $98,686, rent alone is roughly 21% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $485,000
- Median rent $1,714/month
- Median household income $98,686
What is the job market like in Meridian, ID?
County unemployment recently ran 3.3% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Meridian is about $98,686 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.3% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $98,686
How long is the typical commute in Meridian, ID?
Average one-way commute time is about 18 minutes. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 18 minutes average one-way
Is Meridian, ID safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 159.2 per 100k and property about 1068.4 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 159.2 per 100k
- Property 1068.4 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Meridian, ID?
Normals show summer highs near 88°F, winter lows near 27°F, about 11.5 inches of rain, and roughly 276 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 88°F
- Winter low 27°F
- 11.5 in rain · 276 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Meridian, ID?
Newcomers often start with Downtown, Paramount, South Meridian — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Downtown
- Paramount
- South Meridian
What nearby city comparisons involve Meridian?
These curated pair pages put Meridian beside another high-intent destination with the same proprietary metrics table.
Meridian, Idaho counts about 139,740 residents inside the city limits. Median household income is roughly $98,686, while the ACS housing-cost index sits near 144 — well above the national housing-cost baseline (100 ≈ U.S. average). A typical home near $485,000 and rents around $1,714 frame most shortlists.
Ask locals about Downtown versus Paramount — those two pockets illustrate how different daily life can feel inside the same city limits, with South Meridian as a common third option. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Meridian with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
High-desert basins and rapid in-migration have remade many local housing markets. Roughly 276 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Plan on roughly 18 minutes each way for a typical commute. Unemployment recently ran near 3.3%, broadly in line with many large U.S. counties. Violent-offense rates near 159.2 per 100k compare favorably with many peer metros, though local blocks still differ.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Downtown
- Paramount
- South Meridian
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Meridian city, 1600000US1652120) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Ada County, August 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · August 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00024131 BOISE AIR TERMINAL) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19