Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
Simi Valley
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $415k less ($289,400 vs $704,200)
Rent averages $1201/mo less ($1,201 vs $2,402)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 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 Simi Valley by $44,798/yr
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,798 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Nampa
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 36.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Nampa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$415k less
$289,400 vs $704,200
Nampa
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.4% unemployment
Simi Valley
Median Income
$44,798
$112,144 vs $67,346/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
63% lower
129.1 vs 353.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 14.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 44 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 36.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 126,153 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 9 and Simi Valley wins 14. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $704,200 median home), income ($67,346 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Simi Valley, CA are about 654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.