Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Provo, UT
🏆 Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
Provo
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($289,400 vs $391,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.0%)
Households earn $9,403 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Smaller class sizes — 17.5:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Provo
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Provo, UT
Pros
41% less violent crime than Nampa
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $112/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,201)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $391,500
Median income trails Nampa by $9,403/yr
Higher unemployment (4.4% vs 3.0%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 95.8 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Income
$9,403
$67,346 vs $57,943/yr
Nampa
Median Home Value
$102k less
$289,400 vs $391,500
Nampa
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.4% unemployment
Provo
Violent Crime
41% lower
206.6 vs 353.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Provo, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.8 |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $391,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 | $1,089 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 ✓ Higher | $57,943 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 54 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 61 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Provo District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 41.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 114,400 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 23.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 39.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 18.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 6.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Provo's 95.8 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 12 and Provo 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 Provo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $391,500 median home), income ($67,346 vs $57,943), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Provo, UT are about 342 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.