Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
15
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($321,800 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $321/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,548)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $30,295/yr
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Meridian
Meridian, ID
Pros
80% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.3 pts lower (2.7%)
Households earn $30,295 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Home Value
$104k less
$321,800 vs $425,800
Fresno
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 92.7°F
Meridian
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$30,295
$93,296 vs $63,001/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
80% lower
146.8 vs 735.5 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
2.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 12.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 27.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories. Fresno wins 8 and Meridian wins 15. 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 Fresno to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $425,800 median home), income ($63,001 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Meridian, ID are about 505 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.