Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $692k less ($289,400 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $899/mo less ($1,201 vs $2,100)
26% less violent crime than Pasadena
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.0%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $30,472/yr
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,472 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Nampa
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
26% lower
353.1 vs 480.4 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$692k less
$289,400 vs $981,600
Nampa
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.0% vs 5.2% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$30,472
$97,818 vs $67,346/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 13 and Pasadena 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 Nampa to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $981,600 median home), income ($67,346 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Pasadena, CA are about 657 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.