Below Average CostSafer than AverageMEADOWS VALLEY DISTRICT
Pacific and Idaho Northern Railroad Depot, New Meadows, Idaho · Original uploader was Kimberlyeron at en.wikipedia / CC BY 2.5Pacific and Idaho Northern Railroad route · Missouri Pacific Lines / Public domain
New Meadows is a small town of 293 in Idaho, with a median household income of $60,278
and a 3.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
New Meadows stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether New Meadows is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All New Meadows 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: 92.1
New Meadows's overall cost of living index is 92.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in New Meadows costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
New Meadows, ID
National Avg
Median Home Value
$225,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$792
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,278
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
New Meadows's violent crime rate is 326.0 per 100,000 residents
— 14% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
326.0 /100k
Property Crime
931.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
New Meadows is served primarily by MEADOWS VALLEY DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
New Meadows, ID
National Avg
School District
MEADOWS VALLEY DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
New Meadows sees average highs of 30.0°F in January
and 84.8°F in July,
with 24.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 132.2 inches of snow per year.
New Meadows's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes New Meadows roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $225,000 and median rent is $792/month.
New Meadows's violent crime rate is 326.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 931.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in New Meadows are operated by MEADOWS VALLEY DISTRICT.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.9:1. 9.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
New Meadows, ID has a population of 293, a median household income of $60,278, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
New Meadows averages 30.0°F in January and 84.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 24.5 inches
with about 132.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
New Meadows, ID is covered by 1 ZIP code: 83654.
The population of New Meadows, Idaho is 293 with a median age of 30.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in New Meadows: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $225,000, median household income $60,278, crime index 69 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare New Meadows side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
