Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
Spokane
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
48% less violent crime than Spokane
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Households earn $4,030 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Spokane, WA
Pros
Rent averages $141/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,201)
More college-educated — 32.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.0%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Nampa
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Income
$4,030
$67,346 vs $63,316/yr
Nampa
Violent Crime
48% lower
353.1 vs 674.9 per 100k
Nampa
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min | 20.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 32.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 57.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 12 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 12 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $286,900 median home), income ($67,346 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Spokane, WA are about 285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.