Meridian vs Pasco
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $376,300 in Pasco and $531,600 in Meridian.
- Households earn more in Meridian ($100,795 vs $85,586 median).
- Meridian gets far more snow: 18 inches a year vs 2.
- Meridian is growing faster: +21.4% since 2020 vs +7.1%.
- Washington has no state income tax on wages; Idaho's top rate is 5.3%.
Side by side
| Meridian, ID | Pasco, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 142,988 | 82,848 |
| Growth since 2020 | +21.4% | +7.1% |
| People per square mile | 3,851 | 2,126 |
| Median age | 37.5 | 30.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44% | 21% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $100,795 | $85,586 |
| Median home value | $531,600 | $376,300 |
| Home value to income | 5.3× | 4.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,805 | $1,227 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 98.4 | 100.1 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 105.6 | 94.8 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $73,800 | $75,100 |
| Homeowners | 75% | 71% |
| Top state income tax | 5.3% | None |
| Combined sales tax | 6.03% | 9.57% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 22.4 | 22.5 |
| Work from home | 19% | 8% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 2.7% | 5.3% |
| Poverty rate | 6% | 12.6% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 39° / 26° | 41° / 28° |
| July high / low | 93° / 62° | 93° / 57° |
| Precipitation per year | 12 in | 8 in |
| Snowfall per year | 18 in | 2 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 55 | 55 |
| Nights below freezing | 108 | 112 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Low |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 87.8 | 72.5 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 50% | 79% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.7% | +1.9% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +25.7% | +33.2% |
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: Meridian: May to June and September. Pasco: May to June and September.
Full monthly tables: Meridian weather by month and Pasco 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 Meridian and $75,100 in Pasco. Moving from Meridian to Pasco, you would need about $76,300 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.