Fairfield vs Meridian: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Fairfield, CA and Meridian, ID, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 119,420 | 119,872 |
| Median household income | $98,857 | $93,296 |
| Median home value | $546,200 | $425,800 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $2,047 | $1,548 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Fairfield, CA and Meridian, ID comes down to what you value most. Meridian has the lower median home value, and Meridian has the lower median rent.
Fairfield has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Fairfield or Meridian?
- By median home value, Meridian is the cheaper of the two ($425,800 vs $546,200). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Fairfield or Meridian?
- Median household income is $98,857 in Fairfield versus $93,296 in Meridian, per the US Census Bureau.