Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Nampa, ID
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Nampa leads 17 of 23 categories
Nampa
Idaho
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,346
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
102,598
West Valley City
Utah
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
138,868 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Nampa, ID
Pros
25% less violent crime than West Valley City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.0%)
Homes cost $44k less ($289,400 vs $333,600)
Rent averages $159/mo less ($1,201 vs $1,360)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
More college-educated — 21.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $14,373/yr
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $14,373 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Higher unemployment (4.0% vs 3.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Nampa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Nampa
Violent Crime
25% lower
353.1 vs 469.5 per 100k
Nampa
Median Home Value
$44k less
$289,400 vs $333,600
Nampa
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.0% vs 4.0% unemployment
West Valley City
Median Income
$14,373
$81,719 vs $67,346/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Nampa, ID | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $289,400 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,201 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $67,346 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% ✓ Lower | 4.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.5 min | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 70 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NAMPA SCHOOL DISTRICT | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.3°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,598 | 138,868 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Nampa's cost of living index is 93.4 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Nampa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Nampa leads 17 of 23 categories. Nampa wins 17 and West Valley City wins 6. 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 West Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,400 vs $333,600 median home), income ($67,346 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Nampa, ID and West Valley City, UT are about 307 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.