Nampa, ID, known as 'The Heart of the Treasure Valley,' offers a unique blend of suburban tranquility and modern urban amenities. Located in Canyon County, Nampa is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Boise (20 miles) and Meridian (10 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Nampa's blend of scenic landscapes, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Nampa is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Warhawk Air Museum, the historic Nampa Train Depot Museum, and the scenic Lake Lowell. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge to the bustling Karcher Mall, known for its shopping and dining. Nampa's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Idaho cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Snake River Stampede and the Nampa Festival of the Arts highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Nampa's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Northwest Nazarene University contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Nampa is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Nampa Civic Center and the Hispanic Cultural Center of Idaho are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Nampa provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Nampa’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Idaho Steelheads (hockey) and the Boise Hawks (baseball) in nearby Boise, providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Nampa include manufacturing, healthcare, and education, with significant employers such as Saint Alphonsus Medical Center and the Nampa School District driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses, making it easy to get around. Nampa experiences a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters, offering a unique weather experience for its residents.
Cost Of Living
Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.
Housing
High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Amenities
The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.
Commute
A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.
Nampa is a medium-sized city located in the state of Idaho. The city has a population of 96,825 inhabitants. If we look at the most recent Census, Nampa is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. The median age of all Nampa residents is 33, which is well below the national average. This is a good indication that this city could be ideal for a younger demographic. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Nampa your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 23 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Nampa is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a good experience before moving to any new city in Idaho, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Finding the best places to live in Nampa and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes crime, health & safety, education and other important metrics.
The livability score in Nampa is 72/100 and the city is ranked in the 83rd percentile of all cities across America. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Nampa has received high marks for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). On a less positive note, Nampa does not have favorable scores for the following: amenities (F) and employment (D). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.
A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Nampa has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.
Assuming that Nampa meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Nampa. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Nampa are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Nampa come in at $191,800, which is 14.2% higher than the Idaho average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Nampa, the home price to income ratio is 3.6, which is 5.9% higher than the Idaho average.
| Statistic | Nampa | Idaho | National |
| Average one way commute | 23min | 20min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 79.6% | 78.3% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.1% | 10.0% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.1% | 0.7% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.8% | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.6% | 2.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 5.6% | 5.9% | 4.6% |
Here are the best places to live in Idaho
Most Dangerous Cities In The US
See the best places to live in Nampa
Safest States In The US