You know Meridian is growing. You may be surprised to see how its makeup is changing
To some people, Meridian is still just a couple of exits on Interstate 84 between Boise and Nampa.
Being an in-between stop is nothing new for the city, which began as a mail-drop location along the Oregon Trail in 1880. But in the last decade, Meridian has been among the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. It has experienced drastic change from the cattle ranches and fruit orchards of the 1930s and ‘40s.
The landscape and infrastructure look different in Meridian than they did 20 years ago. So do the residents.
Since 2014, Meridian’s population has aged, with a growing share of people ages 55 and older, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Meridian residents are also wealthier, on average, than Boise and Nampa residents. And they find themselves surrounded more and more by apartments, not just the overwhelmingly single-family homes of decades past.
“Basically, everything has changed in our community in (the last decade),” said Caleb Hood, the Meridian Planning Division manager, by phone. “It’s been go, go, go.”
Meridian is home to retirees, seniors
The average age of a Meridian resident has been steadily increasing, from about 30 in 1990 and 2000 to 36 in 2020, according to the survey.
Meridian’s population has aged faster than Ada County’s, Idaho’s and the nation’s, according to the census data, though its share of older residents is still smaller than all of those.
“We’re really getting an uptick in retirees and that age demographic,” Hood said.
That has affected some city plans. “Some of the amenities we put in our parks are a little more passive, or pickleball-related,” he said.
Hood said the city has seen an uptick in building permits for senior or retirement communities, though because of the Fair Housing Act, developers are not required to disclose their target communities.
He has noticed the demographic also affecting the size of proposed housing units.
“The square footage is going down,” Hood said. “The number of bedrooms is going down. Four- and five-bedroom homes were the norm for several years, and it’s more of a three-bedroom range now. These are not small houses or tiny houses necessarily, but more single-level, maybe with a bonus room, is a typical floor plan for a lot of projects in Meridian.”
The city’s staff wrote a report published in October that compiled identified population demographics and other data to help guide city policy. The report said the growth of the 65-plus population illustrates “an increased need for senior housing opportunities” and demand for homes “that are easier to take care of and closer to activities and services.”
The city’s ethnic and racial makeup is changing, too. Meridian residents are still mostly white — 81% — but that’s down from 88% in 2010. And the Latino population grew by almost 3 percentage points in that decade to 9.5%.
The city is also becoming more educated. From 2014 to 2020, the percentage of residents 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher increased to 37.2% from 33%, according to the city.
Growing rental market in Meridian
Most of Meridian’s population lives in single-family homes in “suburban-style developments,” the report said.
But apartment construction has surged so much that 18.4% of residents now live in multifamily housing, compared with 8.3% in 2012. The report said the apartments are “being constructed throughout the community, particularly near employment areas, major roadways and regional attractions.”
Meridian will likely continue to see more apartments, Hood said, because the cost of housing in the city remains high, and people who cannot afford to buy a house still want to live there. He said the city wants to plan better for where to put the apartments.
“We need to remember and educate developers and property owners that not every 40 acres in Meridian is planned for apartments,” Hood said.
Meridian wealthier than Boise, Nampa
Meridian’s 2020 average household income was $98,500. That compares with $87,000 in Boise and $62,000 in Nampa, according to the city’s report.
Meridian has historically been known as one of the richest communities in the Treasure Valley, Hood said, though not as wealthy as Eagle. The average household income in Eagle is $148,000 according to American Community Survey data.
“Meridian has been right there at No. 2, though,” Hood said. “Probably going back 15 years or so, I’d say we’ve been in that kind of second slot in housing costs and income.”
The census reported that 6.5% of Meridian residents are considered to be living in poverty, about half of the national rate of 12.8%. The poverty rate in Ada County was almost 10% in 2020. The statewide poverty rate was about 13%.
The city wants to be a “place for families,” said Daniel Torres, economic development director, by phone.
“We are a family-friendly community and pride ourselves on being that,” Torres said. “Not only the traditional family — mom, dad and a couple of kids and a dog or two. It can be empty nesters. We realize a demographic shift is upon us, and we are welcoming of all families and households of all types and are trying to create something for everyone in our community.”
This story was originally published February 12, 2023 at 4:00 AM.
