Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
17
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.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($202,900 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $313/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,548)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $34,947/yr
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
91% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $34,947 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
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
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$223k less
$202,900 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$34,947
$93,296 vs $58,349/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
91% lower
146.8 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
2.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories. Baltimore wins 6 and Meridian wins 17. 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 Baltimore to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $425,800 median home), income ($58,349 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Meridian, ID are about 2,062 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.