Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Nampa leads 18 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
San Bernardino
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
61% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.0%)
Homes cost $58k less ($289,400 vs $347,100)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 21.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Nampa
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Income
$6,023
$67,346 vs $61,323/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
61% lower
353.1 vs 897.1 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$58k less
$289,400 vs $347,100
Nampa
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.0% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | San Bernardino, 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 | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ 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 | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 21.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 18 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 18 and San Bernardino wins 5. 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $347,100 median home), income ($67,346 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and San Bernardino, CA are about 654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.