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D-

Is Meridian, Idaho Safe?

Population 142,988 · Safer than 13% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Meridian has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D- safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 279.7 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,996 per 100K.

Meridian Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMeridianIdaho AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate334.9316.5363.8
Property Crime Rate2462.61959.91,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate193.0--268.2
Theft Rate1996.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate282.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD-

279.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

335/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2463/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Meridian

Violent crime in Meridian is close to the national average. The rate of 334.9 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2462.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,996 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Meridian Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault193
072% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery84
01.3x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary442
01.6x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,996
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft282
089% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Meridian Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Meridian
334.9
State
316.5
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Meridian
2462.6
State
1959.9
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Meridian Safety

Is Meridian safe?
Not especially. Meridian earns a D- with a crime rate of 279.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Meridian?
279.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 334.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2462.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Meridian safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Meridian's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,996 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Meridian?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Meridian generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Meridian police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Meridian?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Meridian's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D- grade overall.
How does Meridian compare to other cities in Idaho?
Below average for the state. Meridian ranks behind about 96% of Idaho cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Meridian to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Meridian?
Bad. A D- grade and 279.7 per-thousand rate put Meridian below 87% of US cities. Violent crime at 335 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Meridian?
334.9 per 100,000, which is 8% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (193), robbery (84), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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View all Idaho city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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