Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
16
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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($86,200 vs $289,400)
Rent averages $371/mo less ($830 vs $1,201)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Nampa by $25,903/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 3.0%)
Nampa, ID
Pros
Households earn $25,903 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.0 pts lower (3.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$203k less
$86,200 vs $289,400
Nampa
Median Income
$25,903
$67,346 vs $41,443/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
74% lower
353.1 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
7.0 pp lower
3.0% vs 10.0% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $289,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,201 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (84) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 21.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Nampa wins 16. 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 Dayton to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $289,400 median home), income ($41,443 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Nampa, ID are about 1,680 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.