Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
Meridian
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $266k less ($159,600 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $628/mo less ($920 vs $1,548)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Meridian
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $39,157/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 2.7%)
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $39,157 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Edinburg
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$266k less
$159,600 vs $425,800
Edinburg
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 92.7°F
Meridian
Median Income
$39,157
$93,296 vs $54,139/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
46% lower
146.8 vs 269.6 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 27.1% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 9 and Meridian wins 14. 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 Edinburg to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $425,800 median home), income ($54,139 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Meridian, ID are about 1,572 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.