CitytisticsShortlist

Cost of living, pay and housing

39.55° N · 104.85° W · GEOID 0850012

Meridian

Douglas County, Colorado · part of the Denver, CO metro

ColoradoMeridian, COMeridianMeridian

The short answer

Meridian is home to 5,634 people. Median household income is $89,877 a year and median rent is $1,992 a month, 26.6% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is moderate. The median home is valued at $581,100, about 6.5x annual median household income.

What sets Meridian apart is how far household money goes. Money left after rent is $67,800, against $51,900 in its closest peers. Also notable: Home value growth is 3.9% a year, against 10.6% a year in its closest peers.

58OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Above average

Meridian scores better than 58% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 50th of 111 in Colorado.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%11
Economy 20%69
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%50
Education 10%74
Commute 10%84
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,992
46% above the median place
Median household income
$89,877
12% above the median place
Median home value
$581,100
82% above the median place
Unemployment
3.6%
27% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Meridian

  • HousingHalf the homes were built after 2005, newer housing than in 96% of the 2,479 places under 10,000 people we track.
  • AffordabilityThe median rent takes 26.6% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 88% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Meridian

Douglas County gains about 15.8 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in30,467
Moved out25,027
Net+5,440

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Arapahoe County, CO6,8194,313+2,506
Denver County, CO3,5242,061+1,463
Jefferson County, CO2,5061,493+1,013
El Paso County, CO1,2131,205+8
Elbert County, CO364850−486

Within Colorado, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within ColoradoOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$112K
Leavers$108K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Douglas County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
19.2% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 10.6% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Douglas County report $111,900 a year in income on average; those leaving, $108,500.
Income you would need
$79,700 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,992 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $2,825 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $581,100.
Getting to work
19 minutes each way on average; 12.9% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
Watford City, ND matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
10.6%
above the median place (median 2.0%)
Moved here in the past year1
19.2%
234% above the median place
Net movers per 1,000 people7
15.8
above the median place (median -0.6)
All 5 moving measures
MeasureMeridianAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year119.2%234% above
Moved from another state110.6%above (median 2.0%)
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure15.8above (median -0.6)
Income of households moving in7County figure$111,89959% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$108,48854% above
02

What it costs to live here

14% of homes are owner-occupied, fewer than in 99% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 111 Colorado places we track.

Meridian26.6%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$79,680
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
26.6%
30% above the median place
Home price to income
6.5x
70% above the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
27%
just under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$67,900
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Meridian, $1,992 a month, and local prices for everything else (97.4 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Meridian, but easier on the budget

Places that match Meridian on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
Watford City, ND6915.7% vs 26.6%n/aCompare
Elmwood, LA6521.5% vs 26.6%$7,000Compare
Rolla, MO5720.5% vs 26.6%n/aCompare
Lexington Park, MD5622.2% vs 26.6%$5,900Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Meridian.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Meridian? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Homeownership1
14.1%
79% below the median place
Median year built1
2005
1% above the median place
Property tax rate1
0.6%
36% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureMeridianAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,99246% above
Rent to income126.6%30% above
Property tax rate10.6%36% below
Home price to income16.5x70% above
Prices vs US average2Metro figure105.85% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$2,16934% above
HUD area median income4County figure$144,00034% above
Property tax paid (median)1$3,3513% above
Median home value1$581,10082% above
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure1.7%45% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure39.8%23% below
Homeownership114.1%79% below
Renters paying 30%+147.9%5% below
Owner costs with a mortgage1$2,82551% above
Vacant homes16.2%12% below
Median year built120051% above
03

Work and pay

Mean commute is 19 min, 23% below the median place.

Mean commute1
19 min
23% below the median place
Income per person1
$49,170
23% above the median place
Poverty rate1
8.8%
18% below the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureMeridianAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$89,87712% above
Income per person1$49,17023% above
Unemployment1County figure3.6%27% below
Average annual pay6County figure$88,81135% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure4.5%22% above
Jobs6County figure149,5921% below
Poverty rate18.8%18% below
Mean commute119 min23% below
Works from home112.9%4% above
Commutes by transit1County figure0.6%31% below
04

Who lives here

Household size is 2.0, 19% below the median place.

Household size1
2.0
19% below the median place
Median age1
32.0
18% below the median place
No health insurance1
10.1%
58% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Bachelor's or higher46.1% +44%
High school or higher95.2% +3%
Born abroad15.3% +73%
Homes with broadband92.7% +0%
All 8 people measures
MeasureMeridianAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population15,6346187th largest
Median age132.018% below
Bachelor's or higher146.1%44% above
High school or higher195.2%3% above
Household size12.019% below
Born abroad115.3%73% above
No health insurance110.1%58% above
Homes with broadband192.7%0% above
05

Life in Meridian

The nearest National Park Service site is Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, about 50 miles away.

29 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents28.4 2.8×
Playgrounds per 10k46.1 4.9×
Grocery stores per 10k0.0 −100%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k19.5 +75%
Libraries per 10k0.0 −100%
Named paths and bike trails2 km +15%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi0.8 3.7×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument 50 miles
  • Cache La Poudre River Corridor National Heritage Area 66 miles
  • Rocky Mountain National Park 71 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars17.1 −18%
Shops25.4 −16%
Arts, recreation and fitness5.5 +34%
Doctors' offices and clinics25.9 +28%
Child care centers1.9 −17%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
49.5
61% above the median place
Public school students12
63,534
above the median place (median 4,897)
Public schools12
91
above the median place (median 9)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasureMeridianAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure91above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure63,534above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure17.916% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure17.118% below
Shops per 10k8County figure25.416% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure5.534% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure25.928% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure1.917% below
Parks per 10k928.4179% above
Playgrounds per 10k946.1390% above
Grocery stores per 10k90.0below (median 2.1)
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k919.575% above
Libraries per 10k90.0below (median 0.9)
Named paths and bike trails92.315% above
Transit stops per sq mi90.8271% above
Nearest National Park Service site1049.561% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles10150% below
National Register listings11County figure29123% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Wildfire risk is 98.4, 61% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Meridian. Larger places are fetched first.

Wildfire risk14
98.4
61% above the median place
Annual precipitation13
18.5 in
58% below the median place
Average temperature13
48°F
13% below the median place
All 10 weather and risk measures
MeasureMeridianAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure84°F4% below
January average low13County figure17°F35% below
Average temperature13County figure48°F13% below
Annual precipitation13County figure18.5 in58% below
Natural hazard risk14County figure88.74% below
Tornado risk14County figure93.315% above
Wildfire risk14County figure98.461% above
Heat wave risk14County figure54.939% below
Median air quality index15County figure467% above
Good air days15County figure67.7%1% below
08

Meridian in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 27% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 27% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Meridian does better than 12% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 8%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,992/mo (2024)$2,530/mo$2,080 to $3,090/mo+4.1%
Median household income$89,877 (2024)$112,500$95,000 to $133,000+3.8%
Median home value$581,100 (2024)$805,000$584,000 to $1,109,000+5.6%

The median home would be worth 7.2 years of the median income in 2030, against 6.5 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Meridian

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
White Oak, MD$1,808$83,370Compare
North Lynnwood, WA$2,145$101,088Compare
Four Square Mile, CO$1,833$80,903Compare
Harrison, NJ$2,226$93,013Compare
Harrison, NJFour Square Mile, CONorth Lynnwood, WAWhite Oak, MDMeridian, COMeridianWhite OakNorth LynnwoodFour Square MileHarrisonMeridianWhite OakNorth LynnwoodFour Square MileHarrison

Places built like Meridian

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Meridian performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Meridian, CO26.6%1.5%/yrn/a
Webster, TX27.3%2.0%/yr0.1%Compare
Elmwood, LA21.5%9.3%/yrn/aCompare
Cullowhee, NC29.0%2.3%/yrn/aCompare
Four Square Mile, CO27.2%6.9%/yrn/aCompare
Watford City, ND15.7%6.5%/yr2.6%Compare
Jackson, WY21.2%10.1%/yr-0.6%Compare

Common questions

Is Meridian a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 58 out of 100, better than 58% of the places we rate and 50th of 111 in Colorado. Half the homes were built after 2005, newer housing than in 96% of the 2,479 places under 10,000 people we track. The median rent takes 26.6% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 88% of the 2,480 places under 10,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 1 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Meridian expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 26.6% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $581,100.

What salary do you need to live in Meridian?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $79,680 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Meridian?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are White Oak, MD, North Lynnwood, WA, Four Square Mile, CO and Harrison, NJ.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Meridian with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Meridian itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/meridian-colorado

Citytistics. “Meridian, Colorado.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/meridian-colorado/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.