Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 College Station leads 14 of 23 categories
College Station
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$67,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
College Station, TX
Pros
52% less violent crime than Nampa
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.7)
Cons
Median income trails Nampa by $14,949/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.0%)
Pricier housing — median home is $305,800
Nampa, ID
Pros
Households earn $14,949 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Homes cost $16k less ($289,400 vs $305,800)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
52% lower
170.5 vs 353.1 per 100k
Nampa
Median Income
$14,949
$67,346 vs $52,397/yr
Nampa
Median Home Value
$16k less
$289,400 vs $305,800
Nampa
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,201 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
College Station is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, College Station leads 14 of 23 categories. College Station wins 14 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 College Station to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $289,400 median home), income ($52,397 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Nampa, ID are about 1,427 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.