Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 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
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($289,400 vs $523,100)
51% less violent crime than Portland
Rent averages $329/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,530)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.0%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Portland by $18,530/yr
Portland, OR
Pros
Households earn $18,530 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,530/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Nampa
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
51% lower
353.1 vs 720.1 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$234k less
$289,400 vs $523,100
Nampa
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.0% vs 5.6% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 80.3°F
Portland
Median Income
$18,530
$85,876 vs $67,346/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,530⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $85,876 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 13 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $523,100 median home), income ($67,346 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Portland, OR are about 328 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.