Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Nampa, ID
🏆 Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$74,895 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Nampa
Idaho
13
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.
Madison, WI
Pros
27% less violent crime than Nampa
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $7,549 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $326,600
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Nampa
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($289,400 vs $326,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 28°F
Rent averages $90/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,291)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Madison
Cons
Median income trails Madison by $7,549/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Median Income
$7,549
$74,895 vs $67,346/yr
Madison
Violent Crime
27% lower
256.0 vs 353.1 per 100k
Nampa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$37k less
$289,400 vs $326,600
Nampa
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Nampa, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High | $289,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 | $1,201 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 ✓ Higher | $67,346 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 3.0% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 21.4% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 102,598 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 70.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 25.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Nampa's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Madison wins 10 and Nampa wins 13. 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 Madison to Nampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $289,400 median home), income ($74,895 vs $67,346), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Nampa, ID are about 1,358 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.