Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 Nampa leads 15 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Pasadena
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.9 pts lower (3.0%)
38% less violent crime than Pasadena
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
More college-educated — 21.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Households earn $2,648 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($171,600 vs $289,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 3.0%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Nampa
Median income trails Nampa by $2,648/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Income
$2,648
$67,346 vs $64,698/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
38% lower
353.1 vs 566.1 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
5.9 pp lower
3.0% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$118k less
$171,600 vs $289,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 ✓ Higher | $64,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 15 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 15 and Pasadena wins 8. 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 $171,600 median home), income ($67,346 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Pasadena, TX are about 1,521 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.