Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chino, CA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories
Chino
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,385 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
91,008
Meridian
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 39°F
Households earn $6,089 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $599,200
Higher rents — median is $2,001/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Meridian
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
51% less violent crime than Chino
Homes cost $173k less ($425,800 vs $599,200)
Rent averages $453/mo less ($1,548 vs $2,001)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (2.7%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Chino by $6,089/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chino
Median Income
$6,089
$99,385 vs $93,296/yr
Meridian
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Violent Crime
51% lower
146.8 vs 299.5 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$173k less
$425,800 vs $599,200
Meridian
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chino, CA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $599,200⚠ High | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,001⚠ High | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,385 ✓ Higher | $93,296 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 89 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chino Valley Unified | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 12.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,008 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.7% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.1% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chino's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories. Chino 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 Chino to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($599,200 vs $425,800 median home), income ($99,385 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chino, CA and Meridian, ID are about 669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.