Places › Idaho › Meridian

Living in Meridian, ID

Mid-size city in Idaho

Meridian is a mid-size city in Idaho, home to about 125,000 people, with 649,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses with yards.

Is Meridian a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Low natural disaster risk: 2 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Strong healthcare: 4 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Safe: violent crime is 0.4× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Dog-friendly: 20 dog parks within 9 mi

👎 Cons

  • Smaller job market: about 649,000 people live within 31 mi

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Meridian ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
125,000
649,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
41°F / 88°F
Average daily highs · 18″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$483k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,320/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
98
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,639
State income tax per resident · 0.51% property tax
Safety
0.4× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
2 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding
Top-rated hospitals
4
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
44%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
BOI
9 mi away

Living in Meridian: common questions

What is the cost of living in Meridian?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $483k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,320 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 98, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Meridian?

Idaho collects about $1,639 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.51% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Meridian safe?

Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.4× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Meridian?

Meridian has cold winters: winter days average around 41°F and summer days around 88°F, with roughly 18″ of snow a year.

Does Meridian get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding: 2 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.29 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Meridian?

The nearest major airport is BOI, about 9 mi away.

How Meridian scores

Each bar compares Meridian with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban & suburban mix Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature nearby Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Houses with yards ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Average
💸Low taxes Good
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Average
🧸Kids & family Excellent
🐕Dog-friendly Excellent
⛰️Outdoors Good
🎭Culture Average
🛡️Safety Very safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Average
✈️Airport Good

Places like Meridian

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

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Is Meridian right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.