Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories
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
Pasadena
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
74% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.2 pts lower (2.7%)
Households earn $28,598 more per year on average
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $254k less ($171,600 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $389/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,548)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $28,598/yr
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 2.7%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Meridian
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$28,598
$93,296 vs $64,698/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
74% lower
146.8 vs 566.1 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
6.2 pp lower
2.7% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$254k less
$171,600 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 15 and Pasadena wins 8. 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 $171,600 median home), income ($93,296 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Pasadena, TX are about 1,514 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.