The Town FilesMeridian, Idaho
City in Ada County · population 117,635 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $531,600
- Household income
- $100,795
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 18 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 37.5
Meridian is a city of 117,635 people in Ada County, Idaho. The median home is worth $531,600, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). It ranks more upscale than 96% of Idaho towns, more vibrant than 94% of Idaho towns, more of a college town than 94% of Idaho towns.
How Meridian ranks
Percentile among Idaho towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Idaho towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Meridian is worth $531,600, above the typical Idaho town ($291,900). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $100,795, which is more affordable than 26% of Idaho towns. Median rent is $1,805 a month. 74.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Meridian | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $531,600 | $291,900 |
| Median rent | $1,805 | $1,029 |
| Median household income | $100,795 | $66,924 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 74.6% | 73.7% |
| Median year built | 2007 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Meridian
| People | Meridian | Typical Idaho town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 36.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.2% | 21.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 11.4% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 19.4% | 8.4% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.6% | 91.2% |
Weather in Meridian
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 11.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.3 inches of snow (typical Idaho town: 38.8 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Meridian since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Idaho town. The strongest, an F1, struck on October 26, 1984 about 3.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 26, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on May 26, 2015.
Severe weather in Ada County since 1996
Ada County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 9, 2020 | Biological | DR-4534: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3467: Covid-19 |
| October 7, 2017 | Flood | DR-4342: Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3244: Hurricane Katrina |
| September 1, 2000 | Fire | DR-1341: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Ada County
Ada County had 288,010 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,588 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Meridian itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Meridian
46 public schools with 28,431 students, about 19.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOUNTAIN VIEW HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,521 | 22.3 |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,911 | 22.5 |
| MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,823 | 19.2 |
| OWYHEE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 1,812 | 22.1 |
| COMPASS PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-12 | 1,264 | 19.8 |
| VICTORY MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,057 | 24.0 |
| HERITAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 1,035 | 22.5 |
| MERIDIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 955 | 18.4 |
| LEWIS & CLARK MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 858 | 21.5 |
| SAWTOOTH MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 814 | 20.9 |
| HILLSDALE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 745 | 21.9 |
| RENAISSANCE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 672 | 14.9 |
Towns near Meridian
- Kuna, ID6.0 mi · 24,011 people · home $423,900
- Eagle, ID6.1 mi · 30,346 people · home $772,900
- Garden City, ID6.6 mi · 12,316 people · home $449,500
- Star, ID7.8 mi · 11,117 people · home $564,300
- Nampa, ID8.3 mi · 100,200 people · home $370,800
- Boise City, ID8.5 mi · 235,684 people · home $484,800
- Hidden Springs, ID10.1 mi · 3,076 people · home $773,500
- Middleton, ID12.7 mi · 9,425 people · home $403,100
Meridian questions
Is Meridian, Idaho a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Meridian scores better for retirees than 33% of Idaho towns and quieter than 5%. 14.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Meridian?
The median owner-occupied home in Meridian is valued at $531,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,795, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $1,805 a month.
What is the weather like in Meridian?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.5 inches of precipitation a year and 18.3 inches of snow.
Does Meridian get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Meridian since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on October 26, 1984. The typical Idaho town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)