83642 and 83646 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
83642
83646
Opportunity
80 · Top 7%
vs81 · Top 6%
Growth
76 · Top 8%
vs76 · Top 8%
Climate
61 · Bottom 19%
vs61 · Bottom 19%
Physical resilience
82 · Top 20%
vs82 · Top 20%
Housing affordability
66 · Bottom 31%
vs67 · Bottom 31%
Schools
72 · Top 24%
vs82 · Top 12%
Access
90 · Bottom 41%
vs89 · Bottom 37%
Economic stability
81 · Top 9%
vs79 · Top 13%
Measured values
| Metric | 83642 | 83646 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 62,279 | 76,023 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $96,909 | $102,861 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $51,212 | $50,348 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,501/sq mi | 2,786/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $533,600 | $542,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,742 | $1,892 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.7% | 80.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 3.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.1% | 44.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.4% | 5.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,475 | 1,475 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 11.3 | 11.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 6.7% | 6.7% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 93°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 26°F | 26°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 11.5" | 11.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 24.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.9 | 37.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 34 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 20.45 | 18.92 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 53.2% | 61.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 63.6% | 70.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 29.0% | 24.5% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
83642
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire.
83646
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire.
Full profiles: 83642 — Meridian, ID · 83646 — Meridian, ID · How this is calculated: methodology