Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,518 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Nampa
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Nampa
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 3.0%)
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $271k less ($289,400 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $875/mo less ($1,201 vs $2,076)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.0%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $48,518/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$48,518
$115,864 vs $67,346/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
46% lower
189.9 vs 353.1 per 100k
Nampa
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$271k less
$289,400 vs $560,500
Nampa
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.0% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 70.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 25.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 13 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 13 and Nampa wins 10. 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 Elk Grove to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $289,400 median home), income ($115,864 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Nampa, ID are about 437 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.