Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 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
Population
102,598
Renton
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $287k less ($289,400 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $663/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,864)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.0%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $24,946/yr
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $24,946 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Nampa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$287k less
$289,400 vs $576,800
Nampa
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.2% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$24,946
$92,292 vs $67,346/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
4% lower
339.2 vs 353.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 105,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 13 and Renton 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $576,800 median home), income ($67,346 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Renton, WA are about 383 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.