Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Abilene leads 12 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$67,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($161,800 vs $289,400)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $141/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,201)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Nampa by $8,092/yr
Nampa, ID
Pros
17% less violent crime than Abilene
Households earn $8,092 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$128k less
$161,800 vs $289,400
Abilene
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 93.3°F
Nampa
Median Income
$8,092
$67,346 vs $59,254/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
17% lower
353.1 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $289,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,201 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 3.0% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 12 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 12 and Nampa wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $289,400 median home), income ($59,254 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Nampa, ID are about 1,192 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.