Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ 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.
Denver, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Meridian
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Meridian, ID
Pros
85% less violent crime than Denver
Homes cost $115k less ($425,800 vs $540,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (2.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$7,443
$93,296 vs $85,853/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
85% lower
146.8 vs 993.0 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$115k less
$425,800 vs $540,400
Meridian
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 43.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories. Denver 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 Denver to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $425,800 median home), income ($85,853 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Meridian, ID are about 650 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.