Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Nampa leads 15 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
San Jose
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $860k less ($289,400 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1325/mo less ($1,201 vs $2,526)
42% less violent crime than San Jose
20% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $68,664/yr
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $68,664 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Nampa
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
42% lower
353.1 vs 606.8 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$860k less
$289,400 vs $1,149,600
Nampa
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.7% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$68,664
$136,010 vs $67,346/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 18.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 15 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 15 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($67,346 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and San Jose, CA are about 515 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.