Is Garden City or Meridian Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Meridian is safer than Garden City (Safety Score 85/100 vs 38/100), with a total crime rate of 718 per 100,000 versus 2,092 for Garden City — 66% lower. Garden City has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Garden City has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Meridian is 10.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Garden City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Meridian — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Garden City, ID
Meridian, ID
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Garden City | Meridian | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,091.7 | 718.2 | +1,373.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 656.1 | 146.8 | +509.3 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 0.7 | -0.7 |
| Rape Rate | 84.9 | 29.9 | +55.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 7.7 | 10.7 | -3.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 563.5 | 105.5 | +458.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,435.6 | 571.4 | +864.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 162.1 | 52.0 | +110.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,142.3 | 482.4 | +660.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 131.2 | 37.1 | +94.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Garden City or Meridian safer?
Meridian is safer with a total crime rate of 718 per 100K vs 2,092 for Garden City — a 66% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Garden City has a violent crime rate of 656.1 per 100K while Meridian has 146.8. Meridian has lower violent crime.
About Garden City, ID
Garden City, nestled along the Boise River, was historically a haven for taverns and gambling. This small, riverside community is almost entirely surrounded by Boise, Idaho. With a safety score of 38/100 and a population coverage of 12,956, Garden City has a total crime rate of 2,091.7 per 100,000 residents.
About Meridian, ID
Meridian, Idaho, once known as "Hunter," is a rapidly growing city in Ada County, part of the Boise metropolitan area. Its population has surged, and it hosts the annual Meridian Dairy Days, a nod to its agricultural past. With a safety score of 85/100 and a population coverage of 140,353, Meridian has a total crime rate of 718.2 per 100,000 residents.