Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Nampa leads 16 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
102,598
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.8 pts lower (3.0%)
Households earn $15,895 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
More college-educated — 21.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($162,800 vs $289,400)
9% less violent crime than Nampa
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Nampa by $15,895/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 3.0%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Median Income
$15,895
$67,346 vs $51,451/yr
Nampa
Unemployment
6.8 pp lower
3.0% vs 9.8% unemployment
Nampa
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Violent Crime
9% lower
322.5 vs 353.1 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$127k less
$162,800 vs $289,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 16 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 16 and Waterbury wins 7. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $162,800 median home), income ($67,346 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and Waterbury, CT are about 2,194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.