Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Spring Valley, NV
🏆 Spring Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
119,872
Spring Valley
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,341
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
220,114 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (2.7%)
Households earn $23,955 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Spring Valley
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Spring Valley, NV
Pros
36% less violent crime than Meridian
Violent crime is well below the national average (94.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $51k less ($375,200 vs $425,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $23,955/yr
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 2.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Meridian
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$23,955
$93,296 vs $69,341/yr
Meridian
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
2.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Spring Valley
Violent Crime
36% lower
94.1 vs 146.8 per 100k
Spring Valley
Median Home Value
$51k less
$375,200 vs $425,800
Spring Valley
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 92.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Spring Valley, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $375,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,523⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $69,341 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" | 6.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 220,114 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 49.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Spring Valley's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spring Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 10 and Spring Valley wins 13. 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 Spring Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $375,200 median home), income ($93,296 vs $69,341), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Spring Valley, NV are about 523 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.