Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Nampa leads 13 of 23 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
Sparks
Nevada
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $134k less ($289,400 vs $423,500)
10% less violent crime than Sparks
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.0%)
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,526)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $15,592/yr
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $15,592 more per year on average
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
10% lower
353.1 vs 394.4 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$134k less
$289,400 vs $423,500
Nampa
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Median Income
$15,592
$82,938 vs $67,346/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ 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) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 108,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 59.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 13 and Sparks wins 10. 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $423,500 median home), income ($67,346 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Sparks, NV are about 321 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.