Demographics About Nampa, Idaho

Nampa is a city located in Canyon County, Idaholifornia. With a population of over 95,000 as of 2020, it is the largest city in Canyon County and the third largest in the state of Idaholifornia. Nampa has seen rapid growth and demographic changes in recent decades as the Treasure Valley region continues to expand.

Some key facts about Nampa’s demographics:

• Population in 2020: 95,627
• Population growth 2010-2020: +22.6%
• Racial makeup: 57.5% White, 1.7% Black, 0.8% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 34.9% Hispanic/Latino, 2.0% Two or more races
• Median age: 34.3 years old
• Median household income: $55,222

Population Growth

The population of Nampa has grown rapidly since its early beginnings as a railroad town in the late 1800s. Some key population stats:

• 1880: 300 residents
• 1890: 450 residents
• 1900: 1,062 residents
• 1920: 3,400 residents
• 1940: 7,621 residents
• 1960: 15,924 residents
• 1980: 25,112 residents
• 2000: 51,867 residents
• 2010: 81,557 residents
• 2020: 95,627 residents

Nampa exceeded 50,000 residents in 2000 and doubled in population between 2000 and 2010. This rapid growth is expected to continue in the coming decades. Nampa’s growth rate of 22.6% between 2010-2020 was nearly triple the national average.

The growth can be attributed to several factors:

• Affordable housing and cost of living attracting new residents
• Job growth in nearby Boise and other Treasure Valley cities
• Desirability of the area and quality of life drawing transplants from other states
• High birth rates, especially among the Hispanic/Latino population

Nampa’s population is projected to approach 150,000 residents by 2040 if growth continues at similar rates. The city will need to plan for this rapid expansion with infrastructure, housing, jobs, education and transportation.

Age and Gender

Nampa has a relatively young population compared to national averages. The median age is 34.3 years old. Breaking it down by age group:

• Under 18 years: 29.4%
• 18 to 24 years: 11.7%
• 25 to 44 years: 27.0%
• 45 to 64 years: 21.1%
• 65 years and over: 10.8%

The largest segment is the under 18 age group. Nampa has many young families with children compared to other cities.

In terms of gender, Nampa’s population is 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Nampa has becoming increasingly diverse in recent decades. The largest racial group is White at 57.5% of the population. Hispanics and Latinos are the largest ethnic group at 34.9%.

Here is the full racial/ethnic breakdown:

• White: 57.5%
• Hispanic or Latino: 34.9%
• Some other race: 4.3%
• Two or more races: 2.0%
• Asian: 1.2%
• Black or African American: 1.7%
• American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.1%

Hispanics and Latinos have driven much of the population growth in Nampa over the past 20 years. Nampa has a large Mexican-American community with roots going back over 100 years.

Other races and ethnicities have grown as well, leading to an increasingly diverse makeup. Nampa has small but vibrant Asian, Black, and Pacific Islander communities contributing to the city’s culture.

Household Income

Nampa’s median household income is $55,222 as of 2020. This is below the national median of $62,843 and reflects the relatively affordable cost of living.

Breaking down household income brackets:

• Less than $10,000: 5.1%
• $10,000 to $14,999: 4.0%
• $15,000 to $24,999: 10.8%
• $25,000 to $34,999: 10.2%
• $35,000 to $49,999: 14.6%
• $50,000 to $74,999: 23.6%
• $75,000 to $99,999: 16.5%
• $100,000 to $149,999: 11.5%
• $150,000 to $199,999: 2.4%
• $200,000 or more: 1.2%

While Nampa has a sizable middle class, over 20% of households earn less than $25k per year. Poverty and low wages are issues affecting parts of the population.

Education

In terms of education levels among Nampa residents:

• Less than high school graduate: 17.5%
• High school graduate (includes equivalency): 34.5%
• Some college or Associate’s degree: 32.7%
• Bachelor’s degree: 11.1%
• Graduate or professional degree: 4.2%

Most residents have at least a high school education, but only 15% have a Bachelor’s or higher.

The Nampa School District serves most of the city’s K-12 students. It has 36 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 4 high schools. Higher education options include Northwest Nazarene University and College of Western Idaho.

Language

• English only: 64.1%
• Spanish: 31.5%
• Other Indo-European languages: 2.8%
• Asian and Pacific Islander languages: 1.3%
• Other languages: 0.3%

After English, Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Nampa homes. This reflects the large Hispanic/Latino population.

Religion

Nampa residents predominantly identify as Christian:

• Christian: 82%
• Protestant: 36%
• Catholic: 19%
• Mormon: 15%
• Other Christian: 12%

Other faiths include:

• Unaffiliated: 13%
• Other religions: 5%

The city has many active churches across denominations. Faith is important to many residents and local faith communities contribute to civic life.

Households and Living Arrangements

Nampa has 35,559 households as of 2020:

• 64.1% are family households
• 35.9% are non-family households
• 28.8% of households have children under 18
• 58.7% are married couple families
• 11.7% are single mother households
• 4.6% are single father households

Average household size is 2.98 people. Average family size is 3.44 people.

Of occupied housing units, 60.8% are owner-occupied and 39.2% are renter-occupied. Homeownership rates are lower than the national average.

Housing

The housing stock in Nampa consists of:

• Single family detached homes: 18,512 units
• Single family attached homes: 4,043 units
• Apartments in multi-unit buildings: 9,367 units
• Mobile and manufactured homes: 4,612 units

Nampa has grown outward with new suburban subdivisions and master-planned communities. But the historic downtown area maintains its charm, anchored by historic homes and buildings.

Median home value is $247,500 as of 2019. This is below the national median of $256,663, reflecting relatively affordable real estate compared to other growing Western cities.

Rental properties make up a significant share of occupied housing units. Median gross rent is $931 per month, also lower than national averages.

Employment and Economy

Nampa has a diverse economy anchored by manufacturing, retail trade, healthcare, construction and agriculture.

Top industries by employment are:

• Manufacturing: 13.7%
• Retail trade: 11.9%
• Healthcare and social assistance: 11.7%
• Construction: 8.7%
• Educational services: 8.6%
• Accommodation and food services: 8.4%
• Agriculture: 6.2%

Major employers include Idaho Center, St. Luke’s Nampa Hospital, Walmart, Costco, Best Buy, Target, WinCo Foods and Scentsy.

As of 2020, Nampa has a workforce of 44,119 people. The unemployment rate is 5.1%, higher than historic averages due to pandemic impacts. Nampa expects job growth in healthcare, construction, manufacturing and professional services in coming years.

Commuting patterns:

• Workers who live and work in Nampa: 54%
• Mean travel time to work: 23.4 minutes
• Workers commuting to Boise: 27%

Many Nampa residents work in nearby Boise, with over 10,000 commuters making the short drive each day. Efforts are underway to encourage more people to both live and work in Nampa to reduce congestion.

Traffic and Transportation

• Workers commuting alone by car: 77%
• Carpooling: 12%
• Public transportation: 1%
• Other means: 2%
• Work from home: 8%

Nampa is a car-centric city with most residents driving personal vehicles to work. Traffic congestion has increased in recent decades with rapid population growth.

Major roads include:

• Interstate 84
• State Highway 55
• State Highway 45
• 12th Avenue Road
• Garrity Blvd
• Caldwell Blvd
• Nampa-Caldwell Blvd

Public transportation is provided by Valley Regional Transit with a bus system serving Nampa. Efforts are underway to improve transit access. The nearest airport is Boise Airport located 11 miles west of Nampa.

Growth Outlook

Nampa is expected to continue growing at a rapid pace in the coming decades. Population projections estimate Nampa could approach 150,000 residents by 2040, doubling in size again over the next 20 years.

This growth presents opportunities and challenges when it comes to housing, infrastructure, transportation, education, jobs and quality of life. Local leaders have growth and development plans in place to try guiding Nampa’s expansion while preserving what makes it a great place to live and work.

The demographics will continue diversifying with more young families and minorities calling Nampa home. Ensuring economic mobility and equity across all groups will be important. Overall, Nampa’s future looks bright due to the many strengths and community pride of this fast-growing city.