Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories
Chico
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Chico, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Nampa
Nampa, ID
Pros
49% less violent crime than Chico
Homes cost $138k less ($289,400 vs $427,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.0%)
Rent averages $159/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,360)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Income
$1,414
$67,346 vs $65,932/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
49% lower
353.1 vs 699.2 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$138k less
$289,400 vs $427,600
Nampa
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Chico wins 10 and Nampa wins 13. 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 Chico to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $289,400 median home), income ($65,932 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Nampa, ID are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.