Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Columbus leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High
Population
204,572 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
11
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.
Columbus, GA
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($168,400 vs $289,400)
Rent averages $163/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,201)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
Cons
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nampa by $12,785/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 3.0%)
Nampa, ID
Pros
42% less violent crime than Columbus
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.0%)
Households earn $12,785 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 88.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$121k less
$168,400 vs $289,400
Nampa
Median Income
$12,785
$67,346 vs $54,561/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
42% lower
353.1 vs 603.8 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.0% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 ✓ Lower | $289,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 ✓ Lower | $1,201 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbus leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus wins 12 and Nampa wins 11. 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 Columbus to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $289,400 median home), income ($54,561 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and Nampa, ID are about 1,872 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.