Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
9
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($230,500 vs $289,400)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $135/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,201)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nampa by $9,643/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 3.0%)
Nampa, ID
Pros
57% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.0%)
Households earn $9,643 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$59k less
$230,500 vs $289,400
Nampa
Median Income
$9,643
$67,346 vs $57,703/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
57% lower
353.1 vs 823.7 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.0% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $289,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,201 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 13 and Nampa wins 9. 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 Chattanooga to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $289,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Nampa, ID are about 1,762 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.