R.H. and Jessie Bell House · Photo: Tamanoeconomico · CC BY-SA 4.0On CDC estimates, Meridian as a whole is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns
Meridian beats Idaho on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Meridian. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Meridian
Meridian keeps up with checkups
It beats Idaho on three of five routine checkups and screenings, including dentist visits (72.4% vs 66.6%) and cholesterol checks (83.1% vs 81.1%). Checkups ↓
Fewer Meridian adults struggle to make ends meet
Worries about food, housing, utility bills and getting around all run below Idaho. 1 in 10 adults worry about having enough food, vs 1 in 8 adults statewide. Everyday needs ↓
COPD and heart disease are less common in Meridian
Meridian runs below Idaho on four chronic conditions, most of all COPD (5.1% vs 6.6%), heart disease (5% vs 6.2%) and stroke (2.7% vs 3.3%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Idaho figure falls outside Meridian’s likely range.
What’s behind Meridian’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Meridian is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns, #6 of 59 in Idaho. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 95% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 75%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Meridian’s median household income is $100,795; among the 8,476 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($76K–$126K), it’s healthier than 92%, about where its income would put it.
At 142,988 residents, Meridian is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Keeping up with care
Share of Meridian adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Idaho.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
6.4% of Meridian adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 8.8% across Idaho.
Out of every 100 Meridian adults…
Meridian runs below ID on 5 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Meridian
2 community health centers in Meridian, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Meridian; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Idaho
Share of adults, with the Idaho figure marked.
24 miles of trails across 31 parks and preserves
How Meridian adults are doing
About the same as Idaho on each measure.
3 in 10 Meridian adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Meridian and the towns around it
Meridian’s Health Grade ranks 2nd of 4 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian | A | 28.8% | 8.4% | 10.3% | CDC place |
| Boise City | A | 29% | 8.7% | 10.6% | CDC place |
| Kuna | A− | 29.8% | 7.3% | 11.8% | CDC place |
| Eagle | A | 28.2% | 9.9% | 9.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Meridian adults live with a disability (Idaho 34.7%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Meridian
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Meridian is better than Idaho on 17 and worse on 0; on the rest, the Idaho figure falls inside Meridian’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Meridian | ID | U.S. | vs ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 14.4%12.9–16.1 | 17.8% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12%10.7–13.3 | 13.6% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.5%13.9–17.1 | 16.2% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 28.8%25–32.4 | 32.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 8.4%7.3–9.4 | 10.1% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 29.8%27.1–32.4 | 31.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 31.9%28.9–34.7 | 33.2% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.9%22.6–27.2 | 26.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 10.5%9.3–11.7 | 10.7% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 7.9%7.1–8.6 | 8.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 5%4.5–5.5 | 6.2% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.1%4.5–5.6 | 6.6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.7%2.5–2.8 | 3.3% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 8.9%7.3–10.7 | 16.2% | 12.3% | Better |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.3%9–11.7 | 12% | 11.8% | Better |
| No exercise outside work | 17.8%15.5–20.1 | 22.2% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 17.6%15.2–19.9 | 15.5% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 30.5%27.3–33.7 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.2%7.1–9.2 | 10.7% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 76.1%73–78.6 | 74.3% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 72.4%69.8–74.7 | 66.6% | 63.2% | Better |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 83.1%81.2–84.6 | 81.1% | 87.1% | Better |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 67.8%64.4–70.7 | 70.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 65.7%62.3–69 | 61.8% | 65.5% | Better |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.8%68.5–78.8 | 69.1% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.5%22.7–28.3 | 23.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 28.4%25.4–31.5 | 29.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 18%15.8–20.3 | 19.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 9.7%8.5–11 | 12.8% | 15% | Better |
| Worried about keeping housing | 8.7%7.6–9.9 | 10.3% | 12% | Better |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 5.5%4.8–6.2 | 6.6% | 7.6% | Better |
| Lack reliable transportation | 6.1%5.4–6.8 | 7.5% | 7.9% | Better |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 6.4%5.5–7.4 | 8.8% | 11.6% | Lower |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.8%27.9–33.6 | 34.7% | 30.1% | Lower |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11.7%10.4–13 | 14.5% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.2%12.8–15.6 | 16% | 13.9% | Lower |
| Hearing difficulty | 7.9%7–8.6 | 9.3% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 3.7%3.4–4 | 4.9% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.3–7.7 | 8.2% | 7.9% | Lower |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.8%2.5–3 | 3.5% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Idaho figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Meridian
Is Meridian a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Meridian is healthier than 90% of U.S. towns: A for health, #6 of 59 in Idaho. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 92%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Meridian?
CDC estimates 28.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 25% and 32.4%, against 32.1% across Idaho and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Meridian?
Saint Alphonsus Medical Center - Nampa in Nampa, 6.0 miles in a straight line from Meridian’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Meridian have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.1–9.2%), against 10.7% across Idaho.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Meridian more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from A− to A+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Meridian.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Idaho figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.