Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $38k less ($251,300 vs $289,400)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Households earn $4,390 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.0%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Nampa
Nampa, ID
Pros
27% less violent crime than Arlington
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.0%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Rent averages $96/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,297)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $4,390/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$4,390
$71,736 vs $67,346/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$38k less
$251,300 vs $289,400
Nampa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
27% lower
353.1 vs 482.9 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $289,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 25.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 11 and Nampa wins 12. 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 Arlington to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $289,400 median home), income ($71,736 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Nampa, ID are about 1,291 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.