Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Boise City leads 12 of 22 categories
Boise City
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
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.
Boise City, ID
Pros
17% less violent crime than Nampa
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,056 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Higher unemployment (3.8% vs 3.0%)
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($289,400 vs $401,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Boise City by $9,056/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Median Income
$9,056
$76,402 vs $67,346/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
17% lower
293.8 vs 353.1 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.4 on the COL index
Nampa
Median Home Value
$112k less
$289,400 vs $401,800
Nampa
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.0% vs 3.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boise City leads 12 of 22 categories. Boise City wins 12 and Nampa wins 10. 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 Boise City to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $289,400 median home), income ($76,402 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Nampa, ID are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.