Boise vs Meridian
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $484,800 in Boise and $531,600 in Meridian.
- Households earn more in Meridian ($100,795 vs $83,904 median).
- Meridian is growing faster: +21.4% since 2020 vs +1.1%.
- Commutes are shorter in Boise (19 vs 22 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Boise, ID | Meridian, ID | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 238,429 | 142,988 |
| Growth since 2020 | +1.1% | +21.4% |
| People per square mile | 2,800 | 3,851 |
| Median age | 38.6 | 37.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48% | 44% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $83,904 | $100,795 |
| Median home value | $484,800 | $531,600 |
| Home value to income | 5.8× | 5.3× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,446 | $1,805 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 105.6 | 105.6 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $73,800 | $73,800 |
| Homeowners | 63% | 75% |
| Top state income tax | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 6.03% | 6.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 18.9 | 22.4 |
| Work from home | 18% | 19% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 0% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 3.6% | 2.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.6% | 6% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 39° / 26° | 39° / 26° |
| July high / low | 93° / 62° | 93° / 62° |
| Precipitation per year | 12 in | 12 in |
| Snowfall per year | 18 in | 18 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 55 | 55 |
| Nights below freezing | 108 | 108 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 87.8 | 87.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 50% | 50% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.7% | +3.7% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +25.7% | +25.7% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Boise: May to June and September. Meridian: May to June and September.
Full monthly tables: Boise weather by month and Meridian weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $73,800 in Boise and $73,800 in Meridian. Moving from Boise to Meridian, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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