Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Nampa leads 14 of 23 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
Sacramento
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($289,400 vs $450,500)
53% less violent crime than Sacramento
Rent averages $391/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,592)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.0%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $11,608/yr
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,608 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Nampa
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
53% lower
353.1 vs 754.9 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$161k less
$289,400 vs $450,500
Nampa
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.0% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Income
$11,608
$78,954 vs $67,346/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ 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 | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 14 and Sacramento wins 9. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $450,500 median home), income ($67,346 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Sacramento, CA are about 430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.