Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Phoenix
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$72,092 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
56% less violent crime than Phoenix
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (3.0%)
Homes cost $51k less ($289,400 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $121/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,322)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails Phoenix by $4,746/yr
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,746 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 3.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
56% lower
353.1 vs 799.6 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$51k less
$289,400 vs $340,200
Nampa
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.0% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Median Income
$4,746
$72,092 vs $67,346/yr
Phoenix
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 93.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,322 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $72,092 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 12 and Phoenix wins 11. 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 Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $340,200 median home), income ($67,346 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Phoenix, AZ are about 733 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.