Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Nampa leads 14 of 22 categories
Nampa
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Richmond
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $335k less ($289,400 vs $624,800)
62% less violent crime than Richmond
Rent averages $652/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,853)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.0%)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $19,272/yr
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,272 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 93°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Nampa
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
62% lower
353.1 vs 923.1 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$335k less
$289,400 vs $624,800
Nampa
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.0% vs 6.9% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
22.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$19,272
$86,618 vs $67,346/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 24.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 14.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Nampa leads 14 of 22 categories. Nampa wins 14 and Richmond wins 8. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $624,800 median home), income ($67,346 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Richmond, CA are about 493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.