What are the schools like in Hayward, CA?

Hayward is served primarily by Hayward Unified. The district operates 19 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 21.3:1.

What is the median household income in Hayward?

The median household income in Hayward, CA is $105,371 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.7%.

What is the weather like in Hayward, CA?

Hayward has an average high temperature of 59.3°F in January and 74.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 16.0 inches.

Hayward, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Hayward, CA affordable or expensive?

Hayward's cost of living index is 118, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hayward is 18% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $775,700 and the median rent is $2,260 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Hayward, CA?

Hayward has a violent crime rate of 477.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3656.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hayward, CA a Good Place to Live?

Hayward is a mid-sized city of 160,602 in California, with a median household income of $105,371 and a 5.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 118 (US average = 100), which is 18% above the national average.

Strengths: Hayward's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Hayward is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hayward city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 118.2

Hayward's overall cost of living index is 118.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hayward costs roughly 18% more than the average American city.

Metric	Hayward, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$775,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,260	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$105,371	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Hayward's violent crime rate is 477.1 per 100,000 residents — 26% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

477.1 /100k

Property Crime

3656.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Hayward is served primarily by Hayward Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hayward, CA	National Avg
School District	Hayward Unified	—
Elementary Schools	19	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	21.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	82.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hayward sees average highs of 59.3°F in January and 74.7°F in July, with 16.0 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Hayward, CA
Average High — January	59.3°F
Average High — July	74.7°F
Annual Precipitation	16.0"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Hayward, CA	National Avg
Population	160,602	—
Median Age	37.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	34.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	22.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	9.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	30.5%	18.9%
Asian	29.6%	6.3%
Under 18	20.0%	22.2%
65 and over	13.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cherryland, CA 4 mi San Lorenzo, CA 4 mi Ashland, CA 5 mi Fairview, CA 5 mi Union City, CA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Hayward

Hayward, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

94545 94544 94542 94541

Hayward vs Other Cities

Hayward, CA vs Cherryland, CA Hayward, CA vs San Lorenzo, CA Hayward, CA vs Ashland, CA Hayward, CA vs Fairview, CA Hayward, CA vs Union City, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hayward, CA affordable or expensive?

Hayward's cost of living index is 118, where 100 is the national average. That puts Hayward roughly 18% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $775,700 and median rent is $2,260/month.

What is the crime rate in Hayward, CA?

Hayward's violent crime rate is 477.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3656.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hayward?

Public schools in Hayward are operated by Hayward Unified. The district has 19 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.3:1. 31.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hayward, CA a good place to live?

Hayward, CA has a population of 160,602, a median household income of $105,371, and an unemployment rate of 5.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Hayward?

Hayward averages 59.3°F in January and 74.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 16.0 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hayward?

Hayward, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 94545, 94544, 94542, 94541.

What is the population of Hayward?

The population of Hayward, California is 160,602 with a median age of 37.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hayward?

Key numbers for living in Hayward: cost of living index 118 (100 = US average), median home $775,700, median household income $105,371, crime index 145 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hayward side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.