Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Meridian leads 16 of 22 categories
Meridian
Idaho
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Tampa
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
67% less violent crime than Tampa
Households earn $26,494 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
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
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($333,200 vs $425,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Rent averages $126/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,548)
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $26,494/yr
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Meridian
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$26,494
$93,296 vs $66,802/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
67% lower
146.8 vs 444.6 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Tampa
Median Home Value
$93k less
$333,200 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Meridian leads 16 of 22 categories. Meridian wins 16 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $333,200 median home), income ($93,296 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Tampa, FL are about 2,165 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.