Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories
Nampa
Idaho
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
Rochester
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ 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 0.7 pts lower (3.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 40°F vs 23°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $16,627/yr
Rochester, MN
Pros
56% less violent crime than Nampa
Households earn $16,627 more per year on average
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.0% vs 3.7% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 80.3°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 93.4 on the COL index
Rochester
Median Income
$16,627
$83,973 vs $67,346/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
56% lower
154.0 vs 353.1 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$21k less
$268,800 vs $289,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,218 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 10.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 65.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories. Nampa wins 9 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $268,800 median home), income ($67,346 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Rochester, MN are about 1,197 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.