Gainesville, FL vs Meridian, ID
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Gainesville
68
#1355 nationally
Meridian
69.5
#1197 nationally
Meridian leads in crime level (4.0 vs 20.2). Meridian leads in median household income ($93,296 vs $43,783). Gainesville leads in walk score (37 vs 26).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68 (#1355) | 69.5 (#1197) |
| Population | 145,812 | 134,801 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $298,659 | $539,117 |
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $93,296 |
| Average Commute | 18.8 min | 22.1 min |
| Walk Score | 37 | 26 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | 4.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 104 | 119 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+21.0 | R+10.3 |
D+
68 Score
Gainesville, FL
Mid-size Florida city with community character
Median Home
$298,659
Population
145,812
Crime
High
Walk Score
37
Southeast
View Gainesville, FL →
D+
69.5 Score
Meridian, ID
Mid-size Idaho city with community character
Median Home
$539,117
Population
134,801
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
26
West
View Meridian, ID →