Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Grand Rapids, MI
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 14 of 23 categories
Grand Rapids
Michigan
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$61,634
Violent Crime Index
240⚠ High
Population
198,096 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Grand Rapids, MI
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($203,900 vs $289,400)
More college-educated — 39.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Violent crime (910.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2480.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.0%)
Median income trails Nampa by $5,712/yr
Nampa, ID
Pros
61% less violent crime than Grand Rapids
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.0%)
Households earn $5,712 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 31°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Grand Rapids
Median Home Value
$86k less
$203,900 vs $289,400
Nampa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Income
$5,712
$67,346 vs $61,634/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
61% lower
353.1 vs 910.1 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 82.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Grand Rapids, MI | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $203,900 ✓ Lower | $289,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,138 ✓ Lower | $1,201 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,634 | $67,346 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 191⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 240⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.3% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Grand Rapids Public Schools | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.5°F | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.4°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 74.9" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,096 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.5% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Rapids's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Grand Rapids wins 9 and Nampa wins 14. 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 Grand Rapids to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($203,900 vs $289,400 median home), income ($61,634 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Grand Rapids, MI and Nampa, ID are about 1,547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.