Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 104°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $21,120/yr
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
33% less violent crime than Nampa
Households earn $21,120 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 40°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Higher unemployment (4.5% vs 3.0%)
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$15k less
$289,400 vs $304,000
Nampa
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.5% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$21,120
$88,466 vs $67,346/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
33% lower
235.7 vs 353.1 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 93.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 46 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 10 and San Tan Valley wins 13. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $304,000 median home), income ($67,346 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.