Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ 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.
Austin, TX
Pros
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $19,210 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($289,400 vs $461,500)
24% less violent crime than Austin
Rent averages $348/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,549)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $19,210/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$19,210
$86,556 vs $67,346/yr
Austin
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 93.3°F
Nampa
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
24% lower
353.1 vs 466.9 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$172k less
$289,400 vs $461,500
Nampa
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $289,400 median home), income ($86,556 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Nampa, ID are about 1,380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.