Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 12 of 22 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
12
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.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($217,700 vs $289,400)
Rent averages $191/mo less ($1,010 vs $1,201)
More college-educated — 36.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Nampa by $17,191/yr
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 3.0%)
Nampa, ID
Pros
66% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.6 pts lower (3.0%)
Households earn $17,191 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Baton Rouge
Key Differences at a Glance
Baton Rouge
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Baton Rouge
Median Home Value
$72k less
$217,700 vs $289,400
Nampa
Median Income
$17,191
$67,346 vs $50,155/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
66% lower
353.1 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
5.6 pp lower
3.0% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 ✓ Lower | $289,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 ✓ Lower | $1,201 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Baton Rouge is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Nampa leads 12 of 22 categories. Baton Rouge wins 10 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 Baton Rouge to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $289,400 median home), income ($50,155 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Nampa, ID are about 1,661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.