Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories
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
New Haven
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $38,991 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($236,500 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $146/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,548)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $38,991/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$38,991
$93,296 vs $54,305/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
73% lower
146.8 vs 534.8 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
2.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Median Home Value
$189k less
$236,500 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 135,736 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 17 and New Haven wins 6. 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 Meridian to New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $236,500 median home), income ($93,296 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and New Haven, CT are about 2,196 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.