Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Meridian, ID
13 neighborhoods with growth potential — still affordable, increasingly walkable, and showing improving conditions. Ranked by affordability, walkability, employment, safety, and air quality.
Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods in Meridian, ID — Key Takeaways
Meridian has 13 neighborhoods showing growth potential. The most affordable up-and-coming area is Arbon Valley CDP with a median home value of $140,900. The strongest job market is in Hidden Springs CDP with an unemployment rate of 1.6%.
Meridian has a population of 119,872, a median household income of $93,296, an unemployment rate of 2.7%, and a poverty rate of 6.4%. The median home value citywide is $425,800, which is 51% above the national average of $281,900.
Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.
Top 3 Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods
| # | Neighborhood | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside CDP | 73 | ||
| Moreland CDP | 69 | ||
| Groveland CDP | 60 | ||
4 | Lincoln CDP | 59 | |
5 | Silverton CDP | 56 | |
6 | Mountain Home AFB CDP | 55 | |
7 | Arbon Valley CDP | 54 | |
8 | Fort Hall CDP | 53 | |
9 | Robie Creek CDP | 49 | |
10 | Letha CDP | 49 | |
11 | Hidden Springs CDP | 46 | |
12 | Tyhee CDP | 33 | |
13 | Avimor CDP | 28 |
Rankings by Category
Top 5 up-and-coming neighborhoods in Meridian for each growth-potential metric.
Lowest median home value
- $140,900
- $160,600
- $200,900
- $223,400
- $240,400
Lowest unemployment rate
- 1.6%
- 4.0%
- 5.3%
- 5.7%
- 9.5%
Lowest violent crime rate
- 2.1 per 1K
- 2.1 per 1K
- 2.1 per 1K
- 2.1 per 1K
- 2.1 per 1K
Lowest median rent
- $503
- $1,007
- $1,118
- $1,170
- $1,546
Highest median household income
- $152,328
- $117,422
- $106,447
- $94,583
- $93,576
Lowest poverty rate
- 0.8%
- 1.2%
- 1.4%
- 5.0%
- 6.6%
Up-and-coming neighborhoods are identified using a Growth Potential Score that evaluates five weighted categories. These areas are still affordable relative to the city average but show strong fundamentals that suggest improving conditions and future appreciation.
- Affordability vs City Average
- 30% weight
- Walkability & Transit
- 25% weight
- Job Market (Unemployment)
- 20% weight
- Safety
- 15% weight
- Environment (Air Quality)
- 10% weight
Neighborhoods that are priced below the city median home value score higher on affordability. Walkability reflects the Walk Score, indicating access to amenities on foot. A low unemployment rate signals a strong local economy. Safety is measured by violent crime rates per 1,000 residents. Air quality uses the EPA Air Quality Index (AQI), where lower values indicate cleaner air.
Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, Walk Score, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.