Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Springfield
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $45,619 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.0 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)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($198,500 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $501/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,548)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $45,619/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$45,619
$93,296 vs $47,677/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
84% lower
146.8 vs 891.4 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
6.0 pp lower
2.7% vs 8.7% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$227k less
$198,500 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 18 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 18 and Springfield wins 5. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $198,500 median home), income ($93,296 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Springfield, MA are about 2,198 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.