Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kenosha, WI
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories
Kenosha
Wisconsin
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,963
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
99,493
Meridian
Idaho
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($194,400 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $469/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,548)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $28,333/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Meridian
Meridian, ID
Pros
49% less violent crime than Kenosha
Households earn $28,333 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 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
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Kenosha
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$231k less
$194,400 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$28,333
$93,296 vs $64,963/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
49% lower
146.8 vs 285.7 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kenosha, WI | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $194,400 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,079 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,963 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.4% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.5% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kenosha School District | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.3°F | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.2" | 18.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,493 | 119,872 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.7% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kenosha's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories. Kenosha wins 4 and Meridian wins 19. 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 Kenosha to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($194,400 vs $425,800 median home), income ($64,963 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kenosha, WI and Meridian, ID are about 1,433 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.