Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
West Palm Beach, 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 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
75% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Households earn $29,252 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (2.7%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($324,800 vs $425,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 39°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $29,252/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Meridian
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$29,252
$93,296 vs $64,044/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
75% lower
146.8 vs 575.8 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
2.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$101k less
$324,800 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Meridian leads 16 of 22 categories. Meridian wins 16 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $324,800 median home), income ($93,296 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,330 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.