Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 15 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
15
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $19,620 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 93°F
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Nampa
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $189k less ($289,400 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $541/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,742)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.0%)
28% less violent crime than Kent
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $19,620/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$19,620
$86,966 vs $67,346/yr
Nampa
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
28% lower
353.1 vs 489.7 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$189k less
$289,400 vs $478,400
Nampa
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 3.0% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 15 of 23 categories. Kent wins 8 and Nampa wins 15. 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 Kent to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $289,400 median home), income ($86,966 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Nampa, ID are about 379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.