Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Savannah, GA
🏆 Meridian leads 11 of 21 categories
Meridian
Idaho
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
119,872
Savannah
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.6
Median Household Income
$54,748
Violent Crime Index
5 ✓ Safer
Population
147,583 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $38,548 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Savannah
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Savannah, GA
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($203,300 vs $425,800)
86% less violent crime than Meridian
Rent averages $332/mo less ($1,216 vs $1,548)
Violent crime is well below the national average (20.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $38,548/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 2.7%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Meridian
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 95.6 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$38,548
$93,296 vs $54,748/yr
Meridian
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Savannah
Violent Crime
86% lower
20.3 vs 146.8 per 100k
Savannah
Median Home Value
$223k less
$203,300 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Savannah, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.6 |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $203,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,216 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $54,748 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 5 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Savannah-Chatham County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 61.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 92.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 52.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 147,583 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Savannah's 95.6 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Meridian leads 11 of 21 categories. Meridian wins 11 and Savannah wins 10. 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 Savannah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $203,300 median home), income ($93,296 vs $54,748), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Savannah, GA are about 2,062 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.