What are the schools like in Meridian, CA?

Meridian is served primarily by Feather River Charter District. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 29.6:1.

What is the median household income in Meridian?

The median household income in Meridian, CA is $50,917 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.8%.

What is the weather like in Meridian, CA?

Meridian has an average high temperature of 54.6°F in January and 92.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 17.2 inches.

Meridian, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Meridian, CA affordable or expensive?

Meridian's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Meridian is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $261,900 and the median rent is $667 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Meridian, CA?

Meridian has a violent crime rate of 298.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1166.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Meridian, CA a Good Place to Live?

Meridian is a small town of 376 in California, with a median household income of $50,917 and a 7.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Meridian stands out for short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Meridian is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Meridian city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 103.6

Meridian's overall cost of living index is 103.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Meridian costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Meridian, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$261,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$667	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	53.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$50,917	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Meridian's violent crime rate is 298.0 per 100,000 residents — 22% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

298.0 /100k

Property Crime

1166.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Meridian is served primarily by Feather River Charter District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 29.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Meridian, CA	National Avg
School District	Feather River Charter District	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	29.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	76.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Meridian sees average highs of 54.6°F in January and 92.4°F in July, with 17.2 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Meridian, CA
Average High — January	54.6°F
Average High — July	92.4°F
Annual Precipitation	17.2"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Meridian, CA	National Avg
Population	376	—
Median Age	31.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	25.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.3%	22.2%
65 and over	9.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Grimes, CA 5 mi Colusa, CA 7 mi Sutter, CA 9 mi College City, CA 11 mi Arbuckle, CA 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Meridian

Meridian, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

95957

Meridian vs Other Cities

Meridian, CA vs Grimes, CA Meridian, CA vs Colusa, CA Meridian, CA vs Sutter, CA Meridian, CA vs College City, CA Meridian, CA vs Arbuckle, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Meridian, CA affordable or expensive?

Meridian's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Meridian roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $261,900 and median rent is $667/month.

What is the crime rate in Meridian, CA?

Meridian's violent crime rate is 298.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1166.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Meridian?

Public schools in Meridian are operated by Feather River Charter District. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 29.6:1. 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Meridian, CA a good place to live?

Meridian, CA has a population of 376, a median household income of $50,917, and an unemployment rate of 7.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Meridian?

Meridian averages 54.6°F in January and 92.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.2 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Meridian?

Meridian, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95957.

What is the population of Meridian?

The population of Meridian, California is 376 with a median age of 31.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Meridian?

Key numbers for living in Meridian: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $261,900, median household income $50,917, crime index 69 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Meridian side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.