Meridian

142,988 residents · 12 driving miles to the Idaho State Capitol · 22.4-minute average commute

About Meridian

With 142,988 residents, Meridian is the second-largest city in the Treasure Valley, after Boise, and it sits entirely in Ada County. The city lies south of the Boise River on the flat floor of the valley, west of Boise and east of Nampa. Interstate 84 crosses the city east to west, and Eagle Road (State Highway 55) runs north–south through it, connecting Meridian to Eagle on the north side.

Meridian was incorporated as a village in 1903 and as a city in 1941 and covers about 38 square miles of land. Inside city limits, the City of Meridian provides water and sewer service and handles zoning and building permits.

Nearby outdoors

As of its 2015 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the City of Meridian had 19 parks and 387 acres of parkland, 255 of them developed. For bigger country, Eagle Island State Park, on the Boise River, is 9 driving miles from Meridian City Hall, and the base area at Bogus Basin, in the mountains above Boise, is 29 driving miles.

The Great Outdoors section of this guide covers trails, water, snow, hot springs and camping, golf, backcountry recreation and the seasons across the whole valley.

Employers

Meridian is in Ada County. The Idaho Department of Labor lists these Ada County employers and their 2025 employee ranges:

St. Luke's Regional Medical Center (7,500–9,999); Boise State University (5,000–7,499); Micron Technology (5,000–7,499); Saint Alphonsus Health System (2,500–4,999); West Ada School District (Joint School District No. 2) (2,500–4,999); Boise Independent School District (2,500–4,999); Albertsons (2,500–4,999); Ada County (1,000–2,499); Veterans Administration (1,000–2,499).

The Department publishes ranges only for employers that have given it permission, so this is a starting point, not a complete list. It is a county list; it does not say which employers are inside Meridian. The Economy & Employers section covers the region in more detail.

Commute

Working Meridian residents average a 22.4-minute trip to work. That figure is measured by where people live, not where they work: it covers every working resident who commutes, whether the job is in Meridian, Boise or elsewhere. It runs about 3.5 minutes longer than Boise's 18.9 minutes and about 2 minutes shorter than Nampa's 24.4.

Most commutes out of Meridian use Interstate 84 or Eagle Road. If you already know where you'll work, drive the route at the hour you'd actually commute before you settle on an area of town.

Real-estate facts

About 70% of Meridian's homes were built in 2000 or later, and builders took out permits for 1,164 new single-family homes in the city in 2025. In practice, that means a buyer here sees a large share of newer homes and new-construction communities alongside older homes near the city's original center.

Three practical points:

• City limits vs. mailing address. A Meridian mailing address doesn't always mean a property is inside Meridian city limits. Some addresses sit in unincorporated Ada County, where county rules, not city rules, govern zoning and services. Check the parcel before you write an offer.
• Irrigation water. Many Meridian properties receive irrigation water — untreated water for lawns and landscaping, delivered separately from drinking water — through the Settlers Irrigation District or the Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District, which together serve most of the city. Irrigation is typically billed as its own assessment, so ask how a property is served and what it costs.
• School district. Meridian is served by West Ada School District (Joint School District No. 2). School assignment goes by address; confirm it with the district's own boundary lookup.

Ada County handles property assessment and recording for every Meridian property.

Meridian FAQs

How far is Meridian from downtown Boise?

Meridian is 12 driving miles from the Idaho State Capitol, measured from Meridian City Hall by the fastest route.

How long is the average commute in Meridian?

22.4 minutes, the Census Bureau's mean travel time to work for working Meridian residents.

What county is Meridian in?

Ada County. Ada County handles property assessment and recording; the City of Meridian handles zoning and building permits inside city limits.

Which school district serves Meridian?

Meridian is in West Ada School District (Joint School District No. 2). Confirm any specific address with the district's boundary lookup.

Do Meridian homes have irrigation water?

Many do, through the Settlers Irrigation District or the Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District. Ask how a specific property is served and what the assessment is before you buy.