Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, IL
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories
Aurora
Illinois
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,943
Violent Crime Index
70
Population
181,405 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, IL
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($241,600 vs $425,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Rent averages $86/mo less ($1,462 vs $1,548)
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 2.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Meridian
Longer commutes — 28.6 min average each way
Median income trails Meridian by $7,353/yr
Meridian, ID
Pros
45% less violent crime than Aurora
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Aurora
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Home Value
$184k less
$241,600 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$7,353
$93,296 vs $85,943/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
45% lower
146.8 vs 266.0 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, IL | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $241,600 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,462⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,943 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 66 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.9% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indian Prairie CUSD 204 | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,405 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.8% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.5% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 5 and Meridian wins 18. 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 Aurora to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($241,600 vs $425,800 median home), income ($85,943 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, IL and Meridian, ID are about 1,426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.