Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333
Violent Crime Index
55
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
30% less violent crime than St. George
Households earn $23,963 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (2.7%)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
St. George, UT
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $213/mo less ($1,335 vs $1,548)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $23,963/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Meridian
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$23,963
$93,296 vs $69,333/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
30% lower
146.8 vs 210.0 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
2.7% vs 3.3% unemployment
St. George
Median Home Value
$11k less
$415,200 vs $425,800
St. George
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 92.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $415,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,335⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $69,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 3.3% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 13.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 55 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 67.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 14 and St. George wins 9. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $415,200 median home), income ($93,296 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and St. George, UT are about 475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.