The median home price in Meridian is $480,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.9%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $384,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $2,529. Adding property taxes ($280/mo) and homeowners insurance ($200/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $3,009.
Meridian's property tax rate of 0.7% is among the lower rates in the country, which improves overall affordability by keeping total PITI closer to the principal and interest payment alone. On the Meridian median home, that is $280/month, or $3,360 per year.
Idaho levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Meridian should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.