Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High
Population
665,945 ✓ 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.
Boston, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Meridian
Meridian, ID
Pros
77% less violent crime than Boston
Homes cost $259k less ($425,800 vs $684,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (2.7%)
Rent averages $433/mo less ($1,548 vs $1,981)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$4,084
$93,296 vs $89,212/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
77% lower
146.8 vs 627.9 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$259k less
$425,800 vs $684,900
Meridian
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
2.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 43.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories. Boston 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 Boston to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $425,800 median home), income ($89,212 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Meridian, ID are about 2,267 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.