Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Hayward leads 12 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High
Population
99,692
Hayward
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
Homes cost $562k less ($213,400 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1130/mo less ($1,130 vs $2,260)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $50,635/yr
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.7%)
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,635 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Albany
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 33°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Albany
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Albany
Median Home Value
$562k less
$213,400 vs $775,700
Albany
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 83.9°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$50,635
$105,371 vs $54,736/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
42% lower
477.1 vs 816.9 per 100k
Hayward
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 31.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 16.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 160,602 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Albany is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hayward leads 12 of 23 categories. Albany wins 11 and Hayward wins 12. 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 Albany to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $775,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Hayward, CA are about 2,540 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.