Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
San Mateo
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $1220k less ($289,400 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1770/mo less ($1,201 vs $2,971)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $81,806/yr
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $81,806 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Nampa
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Nampa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$1220k less
$289,400 vs $1,508,900
Nampa
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.7% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
20.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$81,806
$149,152 vs $67,346/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
31% lower
243.2 vs 353.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 19.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 104,165 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 12 and San Mateo wins 11. 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($67,346 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and San Mateo, CA are about 514 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.