Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 Nampa leads 13 of 22 categories
Nampa
Idaho
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
San Diego
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $494k less ($289,400 vs $783,300)
Rent averages $879/mo less ($1,201 vs $2,080)
14% less violent crime than San Diego
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.0%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than San Diego
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails San Diego by $31,311/yr
San Diego, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,311 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Higher rents — median is $2,080/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Nampa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
14% lower
353.1 vs 412.2 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$494k less
$289,400 vs $783,300
Nampa
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 79.8°F
San Diego
Median Income
$31,311
$98,657 vs $67,346/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $98,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 89.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" | 11.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Nampa leads 13 of 22 categories. Nampa wins 13 and San Diego 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 San Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $783,300 median home), income ($67,346 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and San Diego, CA are about 745 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.