Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,364 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.0%)
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Nampa, ID
Pros
43% less violent crime than Durham
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.0%)
Homes cost $27k less ($289,400 vs $316,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Rent averages $95/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,296)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $7,364/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$7,364
$74,710 vs $67,346/yr
Nampa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
43% lower
353.1 vs 619.2 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$27k less
$289,400 vs $316,600
Nampa
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.3% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 11 and Nampa wins 12. 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 Durham to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $289,400 median home), income ($74,710 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Nampa, ID are about 2,049 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.