Residential comparison · 13 facts
Caldwell, ID vs Meridian, ID
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Caldwell needs about $96,500 in Meridian to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Meridian, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $73,500 in Caldwell.
A few differences
- Meridian is higher on median household income ($100,795 vs $73,058).
- Caldwell is lower on cost of living index (91 vs 109).
- Caldwell is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,060/mo vs $1,636/mo).
Caldwell vs Meridian · facet by facet
| Facet | Caldwell, ID | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $367,300 | $531,600 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,060/mo | $1,636/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.55% | 0.55% |
| State & local income tax | 3.19% | 3.19% |
| Sales tax | 6.05% | 6.05% |
| Cost of living index | 91 | 109 |
| Groceries index | 96 | 96 |
| Utilities | $130/mo | $130/mo |
| Median household income | $73,058 | $100,795 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 3.3% |
| Crime index | 28/100 | 28/100 |
| School rating | 5.8/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 210 days | 210 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Caldwell, ID · Meridian, ID
Questions & answers
- Is Caldwell cheaper than Meridian?
- Caldwell has the lower day-to-day cost index (91 vs 109 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Meridian equals $85,000 in Caldwell?
- A household earning $85,000 in Caldwell needs about $96,500 in Meridian to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Meridian lifestyle costs about $73,500 in Caldwell.