Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
Richardson
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Rent averages $524/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,725)
Homes cost $90k less ($289,400 vs $379,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.0%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $27,016/yr
Richardson, TX
Pros
58% less violent crime than Nampa
Households earn $27,016 more per year on average
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 3.0%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Nampa
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$90k less
$289,400 vs $379,800
Nampa
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.0% vs 5.0% unemployment
Richardson
Median Income
$27,016
$94,362 vs $67,346/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
58% lower
146.7 vs 353.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 13 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 10 and Richardson wins 13. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $379,800 median home), income ($67,346 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Richardson, TX are about 1,298 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.