Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 14 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Overland Park
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
20% less violent crime than Overland Park
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (2.7%)
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
Median income trails Overland Park by $7,580/yr
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (184.4 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $64k less ($361,800 vs $425,800)
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $170/mo less ($1,378 vs $1,548)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Households earn $7,580 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Violent Crime
20% lower
146.8 vs 184.4 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 3.2% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.2°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.4 on the COL index
Overland Park
Median Income
$7,580
$100,876 vs $93,296/yr
Overland Park
Median Home Value
$64k less
$361,800 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 | $100,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 3.2% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 49 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 13.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 14 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 9 and Overland Park 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 Meridian to Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $361,800 median home), income ($93,296 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Overland Park, KS are about 1,170 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.