Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
West Valley City
Utah
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
138,868 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Meridian, ID
Pros
69% less violent crime than West Valley City
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (2.7%)
Households earn $11,577 more per year on average
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
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($333,600 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $188/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,548)
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Meridian by $11,577/yr
Higher unemployment (4.0% vs 2.7%)
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$11,577
$93,296 vs $81,719/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
69% lower
146.8 vs 469.5 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.0% unemployment
West Valley City
Median Home Value
$92k less
$333,600 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $333,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $81,719 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 71.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 17 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 17 and West Valley City 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 Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $333,600 median home), income ($93,296 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and West Valley City, UT are about 302 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.