A suburb of Idaho‘s capital, Meridian is only a short drive from Oregon.
It’s accessible to the city and the beauty of its neighbor, but what about Meridian itself?
Well, to get a good idea of what the city is, let’s go back.
The town has been official since just before the turn of the 20th century.
A group of pioneers from Missouri made their way west to some vacant land.
It took a long time to really get established but once the ball started rolling, the town was able to grow.
As of today, there are 118,000 citizens who live here.
So, what’s it like to call Meridian home?
Stay tuned, we’re going through all the pros and cons of Meridian, ID.
Contents
Pros of Living in Meridian, ID
1. Cost of Living
Meridian may be a bit out of the way, but it might be worth it when it comes to daily expenses.
Being next to the biggest city in Idaho offers Meridian a lot of perks.
One of those perks is being relatively close to nightlife without having to have the nightlife in your backyard.
Another perk is not having to pay the often higher prices of capital.
When it comes to utilities, groceries, and entertainment, Meridian comes in well below the national average in cost.
This doesn’t necessarily apply to housing prices, though.
More on that later.
2. Job Opportunities
There are lots of jobs here.
You might not associate an overwhelming job market with a suburb of Boise, but perhaps that’s what makes Meridian so attractive in the first place.
To be fair, many of the jobs are not necessarily what you might consider career positions.
If you have any interest in dairy, however, you could definitely have a comfortable life here.
Meridian could almost be considered a dairy hub, there’s a lot of activity and availability in the industry here.
There may not be a lot of corporate positions that are open here but there is work.
3. Safety
Feeling safe in your home and town is something most people look for when seeking out a place to settle in.
Meridian definitely tops the charts when it comes to safety.
This town comes in well below average for both violent and property crimes.
In an unusual twist, Meridian actually has half the crime rate as the state of Idaho.
The chance of being a crime victim is 1 in 580 whereas in Idaho it’s 1 in 401.
That’s saying a lot since Idaho is actually on the low side of crime to begin with.
4. Outdoor Activities
Despite the looming threat of snow, there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy when the weather is nice.
Wahooz Family Fun Zone is one of the top-ranked activities for good reason.
Not only is it family friendly but there are low-key things to do such as putt putt golf.
Let’s not forget Roaring Springs Waterpark!
If you want a shopping experience included, the Village at Meridian has themed areas you can browse through.
Of course, there are several parks where you can just enjoy some outdoor time.
5. Isolation
This may sound like a strange one for the pro category, but it depends on perspective.
Meridian is not really on the way to anything.
While it is close to Boise, the town is sort of out by itself.
There would be no reason to pass by Meridian on the way to something.
It may feel disconnected for some, but it’s a sentiment that many take pride in.
The idea is that they are harder to find and that keeps the place nice.
That’s a thought, anyway.
6. Dining Options
When you’re isolated, there should be extra positives to keep the masses happy.
One of those in Meridian is the restaurant scene.
Since there isn’t a real sense of diversity, the closest you can get to exploring new things is through food.
You can go on a real adventure through culinary delights.
Any type of food you can think of has a location around the city.
7. Variety of Religions
In most locations, a variety of religions comes with a variety of people.
Somehow, though, a multitude of religions have made their way to Meridian.
This has brought interest from residents and everyone appears to be quite respectful of opposing opinions.
Perhaps everyone sees this as a learning opportunity instead of a chance to be hateful.
8. Traffic
You know what else is great about living next to a big city but not being a huge city yourself?
Traffic.
Or lack thereof.
When you have a city that was built to be walkable, that also helps.
Leave the heavy traffic and the endless hoards of cars to the capital.
Let’s keep Meridian clear and breezy to get from one side to the other.
Cons of Living in Meridian, ID
1. Winter
If snow isn’t your thing, neither is Meridian.
Cold weather descends upon the town starting as early as September and doesn’t leave until late spring.
Maybe.
You don’t have to dig out several feet of snow, Meridian gets around 10 inches annually, but it still seems ever-present.
At least that’s how it feels.
Ice, rain, and bitter wind also take up the atmosphere during that time.
2. Lackluster Education
Public schools leave a lot to be desired, for lack of a better way to say it.
They aren’t nationally recognized for excellence.
They aren’t all that competitive.
They just sort of squeeze by as acceptable.
3. A Few Things to Do
Luckily, Meridian is close to Boise.
Otherwise, there’s just not a ton to do.
Sure, there are outdoor activities like parks and such.
But not a lot of interesting and cool indoor things.
4. Bland Topography
Idaho, in general, is flat
That is especially true for Meridian.
If you’re hoping for scenic views and tall hiking trails, you might want to keep looking.
5. Lack of Diversity
As we’ll speak on later, this is the whitest place you might come across.
Why?
It’s hard to say.
However, if you’re anything other than Caucasian, you can see Meridian as a challenge or not a great option.
6. Housing Prices
Perhaps no one can exactly pinpoint the reason, but the housing prices have exploded.
It might be that people are discovering the solitude of Meridian and are outbidding locals.
This is happening in many places.
But no one expected Meridian to be so overpriced.
7. Uneventful History
There was a group of pioneers who came out this way and stayed to create what would be called Meridian.
They called it Hunter at first.
Not a whole lot happened here after that, other than people living their best lives.
8. New Growth
This is probably the culprit behind the high housing prices.
People are discovering the benefits of living in Meridian, and they are coming here in droves.
This has frustrated many long-time locals.
From traffic to new construction, it’s becoming an issue more and more as time goes on.
Pros and Cons of Living in Meridian, ID – Summary Table
| Pros of Living in Meridian, ID | Cons of Living in Meridian, ID |
|---|---|
| 1. Cost of Living | 1. Winter |
| 2. Job Opportunities | 2. Lackluster Education |
| 3. Safety | 3. A Few Things to Do |
| 4. Outdoor Activities | 4. Bland Topography |
| 5. Isolation | 5. Lack of Diversity |
| 6. Dining Options | 6. Housing Prices |
| 7. Variety of Religions | 7. Uneventful History |
| 8. Traffic | 8. New Growth |
Meridian Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Meridian Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the ethnic breakdown of Meridian?
If you were hoping for a splash of diversity by moving to Meridian, you would be sorely disappointed.
For whatever reason, Idaho, and specifically Meridian, doesn’t seem to attract a variety of people.
About 87% of the population is Caucasian.
9% is Hispanic.
Asians take up 2% of the count.
African Americans come in at about 1%, as do Native Americans.
When you look at the breakdown, in comparison with other cities in the US, you might wonder why there isn’t more diversity.
Is it the extreme winters that other ethnicities aren’t interested in dealing with?
Is it unwelcoming to those from other places?
It might come as a shock, but the diversity is coming to Meridian.
It’s actually more diverse than it was just a decade ago.
The process is just very slow.
Is Meridian known for anything?
Well, aside from being closely associated with Boise, there are some standout points for the city.
Ever heard of Scentsy?
If not, it’s a fragrance company that is sold directly from individuals as opposed to stores.
The company is headquartered in Meridian.
Okay, that might have been the most notable thing that those not from the area would catch on to.
Would Meridian be considered a small town?
It probably depends on how you look at things.
If you’re comparing it with the rest of Idaho, the answer is yes.
In fact, Meridian is the second-largest city in the state.
When it comes to growth, it ranks the fastest-growing in Idaho for the last 30 years.
Thanks to the dairy industry, Meridian has solidified itself as important and attractive to those in the creamery business and beyond.
There are about 126,000 residents, which is about half as many in Boise.
So, Meridian is a big city for Idaho but would probably be considered a small town for someone who was from say, Los Angeles, which has a population of over three million.
How walkable is Meridian?
Meridian has a walk score of 84 out of 100.
That means it’s really quite walkable.
There is a whole lot that can be accomplished on foot, from errands to entertainment.
Being able to walk where you need was sort of the goal when it came to city planning.
Remember, Meridian started out as an empty place where pioneers landed.
Keeping everything relatively close is the best way to stay connected
Not to mention, it’s the best way to survive the winter.
Before cars were expected in every household, people still had to get around during the height of snow.
Keeping things close meant life could function.
Thankfully, that was a gift given from the past.
Walking everywhere is great exercise and can really save many citizens money.
Is Meridian LGBTQ-friendly?
It’s possible that you might get the feeling that Meridian is a tad too conservative to be open to a variety of lifestyles.
Don’t let the look of the town fool you.
Meridian has gone out of its way to pass ordinances that ban discrimination in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.
It also was voted at the top of the list of best towns in Idaho for LGBT rights.
There’s also a bit of an LGBT community in Meridian.
Social support and services are also available here including wellbeing service and STI testing.
If you are in search of friendly places, there are hotels and activities that are inclusive.
I’ve been living in Meridian for a few years now, and one major pro is the sense of community. It feels like everyone knows everyone, which can be comforting.
One con I’ve experienced is the lack of public transportation options. If you don’t have a car, getting around can be quite challenging.
I love the abundance of outdoor activities here! From hiking in the Boise Foothills to skiing in Bogus Basin, there’s always something to do.
One downside for me is the summer heat. It can get scorching hot, which might not be ideal for everyone, especially if you’re not a fan of high temperatures.
Meridian’s growth is impressive, but it also means increased traffic congestion during rush hours. Definitely something to consider if you’re commuting regularly.