Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($141,900 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $525/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,548)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Meridian
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $42,804/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $42,804 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$284k less
$141,900 vs $425,800
Meridian
Median Income
$42,804
$93,296 vs $50,492/yr
Meridian
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
2.7% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 34 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 27 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Augusta-Richmond County wins 10 and Meridian wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Augusta-Richmond County to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $425,800 median home), income ($50,492 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Meridian, ID are about 1,970 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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