Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Nampa
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $80,881 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Nampa
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Nampa
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($289,400 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1152/mo less ($1,201 vs $2,353)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $80,881/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$80,881
$148,227 vs $67,346/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
61% lower
138.1 vs 353.1 per 100k
Nampa
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$348k less
$289,400 vs $637,400
Nampa
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 102,598 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 70.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $289,400 median home), income ($148,227 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Nampa, ID are about 661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.