Meridian, Mississippi
Among the top 22% of US places for safety & wellbeing.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade D, better than 19% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 54% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B+, better than 78% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade B+, better than 71% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade F, better than 6% of US places
- top 6% for property crime
- top 7% for violent crime
- bottom 5% for monthly owner costs
Meridian is a mid-size city in Mississippi with about 35,000 residents. It grades B+ for safety & wellbeing and F for lifestyle & connectivity. Standout strengths include property crime, violent crime, and commute time. It rates lower on summer humidity and monthly owner costs.
- The median home value in Meridian is $98k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Meridian is $33k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Meridian is $824 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Meridian has a violent crime rate of 0/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Meridian is 18 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Climate
Hot, humid summers · Cool winters · Wet
cool
comf.
warm
hot
warm
comf.
cool
82%57%clearovercast
Precipitation 5.6 in3.7 in
oppressive 94%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$33k5th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$47kbetter than 48% of US places
Home Value$98k23rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$824better than 62% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$7kbetter than 5% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.30%better than 34% of US places
Income Tax5.00%better than 47% of US places
Sales Tax7.06%better than 54% of US places
Estimated total tax burden11.20%better than 34% of US places
Unemployment8.6%better than 18% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)47°F85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)82°F85th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation58.6 in94th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall0.5 inbetter than 82% of US places
Sunny Days256 daysbetter than 75% of US places
Summer Humidity71°Fbetter than 10% of US places
Comfortable Days74 daysbetter than 29% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk70.9better than 42% of US places
Air Quality42 AQIbetter than 70% of US places
School Quality40.1better than 15% of US places
Violent Crime0/100kbetter than 93% of US places
Property Crime0/100kbetter than 94% of US places
Community
Population34,99096th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age37.935th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4882nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.8725th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+1642nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)29.8%10th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)65.0%98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)1.9%39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)1.1%72nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)2.3%43rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time18 minbetter than 93% of US places
Walkability7.6/20better than 69% of US places
Airport Distance138 mibetter than 21% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access77.8%better than 25% of US places
Amenities Nearby13.72better than 17% of US places
Park & Nature AccessLimitedbetter than 13% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Meridian an affordable place to live?
- Meridian is about average in cost. Its cost-of-living index is $47k, better than 48% of comparable areas. Median rent is $824.
- Is Meridian safe?
- Meridian is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 0/100k (better than 93%). Property crime is 0/100k.
- What is the weather like in Meridian?
- Meridian averages 82°F in July and 47°F in January, with 58.6 in of annual precipitation and about 256 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Meridian?
- Public-school quality in Meridian is below average, scoring better than 15% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Meridian?
- The average one-way commute in Meridian is 18 min.