Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Provo
Utah
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54
Population
114,400
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $35,353 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Provo
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (2.7%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Smaller class sizes — 18.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $459/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,548)
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $34k less ($391,500 vs $425,800)
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $35,353/yr
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 2.7%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Meridian
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$35,353
$93,296 vs $57,943/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
29% lower
146.8 vs 206.6 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.4% unemployment
Provo
Median Home Value
$34k less
$391,500 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 57 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 54 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 92.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 ✓ Larger | 114,400 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 17 and Provo 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $391,500 median home), income ($93,296 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Provo, UT are about 337 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.