Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 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
Population
102,598
Sunnyvale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Homes cost $1391k less ($289,400 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1789/mo less ($1,201 vs $2,990)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Smaller class sizes — 17.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $107,160/yr
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $107,160 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
31% less violent crime than Nampa
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Nampa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Home Value
$1391k less
$289,400 vs $1,680,700
Nampa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.1% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$107,160
$174,506 vs $67,346/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
31% lower
244.5 vs 353.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 13.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 13 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 13 and Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($67,346 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Sunnyvale, CA are about 515 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.