Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Nampa leads 17 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Rialto
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873 ✓ 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 6.3 pts lower (3.0%)
45% less violent crime than Rialto
Homes cost $129k less ($289,400 vs $418,300)
Rent averages $352/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,553)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Rialto
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $13,404/yr
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,404 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Nampa
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
45% lower
353.1 vs 641.7 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$129k less
$289,400 vs $418,300
Nampa
Unemployment
6.3 pp lower
3.0% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$13,404
$80,750 vs $67,346/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 103,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 62.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 17 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 17 and Rialto wins 6. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $418,300 median home), income ($67,346 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Rialto, CA are about 656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.