Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Boise City leads 11 of 20 categories
Boise City
Idaho
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$76,402
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
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.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,548)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Homes cost $24k less ($401,800 vs $425,800)
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $16,894/yr
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
50% less violent crime than Boise City
Households earn $16,894 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (2.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Median Home Value
$24k less
$401,800 vs $425,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.4 on the COL index
Meridian
Median Income
$16,894
$93,296 vs $76,402/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
50% lower
146.8 vs 293.8 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
2.7% vs 3.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 43.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 12.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Boise City leads 11 of 20 categories. Boise City wins 11 and Meridian wins 9. 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 Boise City to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $425,800 median home), income ($76,402 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Meridian, ID are about 8 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.