Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pasadena
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Homes cost $556k less ($425,800 vs $981,600)
69% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $552/mo less ($1,548 vs $2,100)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $4,522/yr
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,522 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Meridian
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Violent Crime
69% lower
146.8 vs 480.4 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$556k less
$425,800 vs $981,600
Meridian
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$4,522
$97,818 vs $93,296/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 14 and Pasadena wins 9. 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $981,600 median home), income ($93,296 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Pasadena, CA are about 660 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.