Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Waco
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $45,875 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Waco
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 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
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($174,100 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $510/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,548)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $45,875/yr
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Median Income
$45,875
$93,296 vs $47,421/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
66% lower
146.8 vs 425.9 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.5% unemployment
Waco
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$252k less
$174,100 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ 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 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 14 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 14 and Waco 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $174,100 median home), income ($93,296 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Waco, TX are about 1,336 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.