COMPARING TWO PLACES
Gainesville vs Meridian
PLACE A
Gainesville, Texas
VS
PLACE B
Meridian, Idaho
Gainesville is 87% smaller than Meridian. Meridian earns more, with a median household income $41,986 higher. Meridian has grown faster since 2000 (57% vs 9%).
GAINESVILLEMERIDIANDIFFERENCE
Total population18,528142,988−87% vs Meridian
Population density9603,879−2,919
Population growth8.7%56.7%−48.0 pts
Median age36.537.5−1.0
Male48.4%49.7%−1.4 pts
Female51.6%50.3%+1.4 pts
Foreign-born10.4%5.0%+5.4 pts
White, non-Hispanic58.2%80.6%−22.4 pts
Black6.8%1.2%+5.6 pts
Hispanic / Latino31.1%10.5%+20.6 pts
Asian0.9%2.4%−1.5 pts
Other3.0%5.3%−2.3 pts
Median household income$58,809$100,795−$41,986
Per capita income$31,046$50,506−$19,460
Poverty rate19.1%6.0%+13.1 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.4450.425+0.0
Bachelor's degree or higher19.4%44.2%−24.7 pts
Graduate degree6.0%14.8%−8.8 pts
Unemployment rate8.1%2.7%+5.4 pts
Labor force participation64.9%69.7%−4.8 pts
Median home value$177,000$531,600−$354,600
Median gross rent$1,038$1,805−$767
Owner-occupied57.6%74.6%−17.0 pts
Housing vacancy rate6.6%3.1%+3.4 pts
Rent-burdened households41.6%47.9%−6.3 pts
Average commute22.222.4−0.2
Worked from home5.6%19.4%−13.8 pts
Public transit to work0.0%0.1%−0.1 pts
Uninsured17.9%6.9%+11.0 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025