Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
51% less violent crime than Tracy
Homes cost $192k less ($425,800 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $614/mo less ($1,548 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $18,421/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,421 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Meridian
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Violent Crime
51% lower
146.8 vs 301.4 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$192k less
$425,800 vs $617,300
Meridian
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Median Income
$18,421
$111,717 vs $93,296/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 12.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 19 and Tracy wins 4. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $617,300 median home), income ($93,296 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Tracy, CA are about 485 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.