Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 14 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% less violent crime than Nampa
Households earn $11,200 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Nampa
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($289,400 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,472)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 32°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $11,200/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$11,200
$78,546 vs $67,346/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
14% lower
302.5 vs 353.1 per 100k
Nampa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$127k less
$289,400 vs $416,500
Nampa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.0% vs 3.7% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 9 and Nampa wins 14. 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 Ann Arbor to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $289,400 median home), income ($78,546 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Nampa, ID are about 1,653 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.