Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,356
Hayward
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $614k less ($161,800 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1200/mo less ($1,060 vs $2,260)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
11% less violent crime than Hayward
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (2.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $46,117/yr
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,117 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Abilene
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Violent Crime
11% lower
424.5 vs 477.1 per 100k
Abilene
Median Home Value
$614k less
$161,800 vs $775,700
Abilene
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
2.8% vs 5.7% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
21.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$46,117
$105,371 vs $59,254/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 31.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" | 16.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 160,602 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 14 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 14 and Hayward wins 9. 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 Abilene to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $775,700 median home), income ($59,254 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Hayward, CA are about 1,311 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.