Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 14 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Nampa
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Nampa
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($289,400 vs $466,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (3.0%)
32% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Rent averages $184/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,385)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Income
$2,867
$67,346 vs $64,479/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
32% lower
353.1 vs 518.1 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$177k less
$289,400 vs $466,300
Nampa
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
3.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 102,598 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade 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 Arden-Arcade to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $289,400 median home), income ($64,479 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Nampa, ID are about 426 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.