Meridian, Idaho, known as "The Center of the Treasure Valley," is a rapidly growing community located near Boise. With its strong economy, excellent schools, and family-friendly atmosphere, Meridian offers a high quality of life for its residents. The city's blend of suburban charm and modern amenities makes living in Meridian an attractive option for families and professionals.
Residents of Meridian enjoy a variety of recreational activities and cultural events. The city's numerous parks, trails, and recreational facilities provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities. The Meridian Speedway and the Roaring Springs Water Park are popular destinations that celebrate the city's vibrant community spirit. The annual Meridian Dairy Days and the Meridian Art Week are events that showcase Meridian's cultural richness.
Meridian's strong economy is supported by a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, technology, and education. The city's strategic location near Boise provides residents with easy access to job opportunities and cultural amenities in the greater metropolitan area. Major employers in the area include St. Luke's Health System and the Meridian School District.
Meridian has invested heavily in its infrastructure and public amenities, including new schools, parks, and community centers. These investments not only enhance the city's functionality but also contribute to the overall well-being and satisfaction of its residents.
Public transportation in Meridian is well-developed, with access to ValleyRide buses, facilitating easy commutes within the city and to neighboring areas. Meridian's climate features hot summers and cold winters, allowing for a variety of seasonal activities. Overall, Meridian offers a blend of suburban tranquility, economic opportunity, and community spirit, making it a desirable place to live.
Commute
High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.
Crime
This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.
Employment
This area scores extremely well in the employment category. This is primarily due to the combination of low unemployment rates, higher median home income and income per capita.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Ratings
Polls and surveys done by AreaVibes among area residents did not yield positive feedback when it came to the walkability of amenities, safety, nearby parks and the overall sense of community.
Meridian is a medium-sized city located in the state of Idaho. The city has a population of 107,787 residents. Meridian has a population density of 3,027 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. If we look at the most recent Census, Meridian is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Asian and Black.
Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Meridian could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Idaho if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like crime, cost of living, commute, employment, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Meridian and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Meridian to Idaho and the national average.
Meridian has a livability score of 83 out of 100 and is ranked #6 in Idaho and #668 in the USA. Clearly, Meridian is doing something right, as this score ranks well above the average of most cities. Another exciting tidbit, is that Meridian ranks better than 90% of all US cities! Based on the scores for each individual category, Meridian has received high marks for amenities (B), crime (A+), cost of living (B-), education (A), employment (A) and housing (A+).
Living in Meridian offers many benefits and offers an extensive array of local amenities. These amenities play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life in this vibrant community. From readily accessible grocery stores to charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and generously spaced parks, Meridian provides a wide spectrum of resources for its residents. This ensures that your daily requirements are effortlessly met and creates abundant opportunities for leisure and recreation. The abundant local offerings contribute to the area's overall appeal, making it an attractive destination for those seeking convenience, variety and a fulfilling lifestyle. If you're considering a move, the wealth of local amenities continues could be a defining feature of this remarkable locale. Among the enticing options for fun and exploration in Meridian are: Roaring Springs Waterpark, Wahooz Family Fun Zone, and Dart Zone Meridian.
Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and can help foster positive community dynamics and social cohesion. Meridian has a violent crime rate of 140 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average.
The Meridian unemployment rate of 2.13% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Meridian has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Meridian. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Meridian are affordable. Median real estate prices in Meridian come in at $304,500, which is 81.4% higher than the Idaho average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Meridian, the home price to income ratio is 4, which is 17.6% higher than the Idaho average.
| Statistic | Meridian | Idaho | National |
| Average one way commute | 22min | 20min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.5% | 78.3% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 7.5% | 10.0% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 0.7% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.4% | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.7% | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 10.8% | 5.9% | 4.6% |
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