Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Hayward
California
10
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $533k less ($242,300 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1215/mo less ($1,045 vs $2,260)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
15% less violent crime than Hayward
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $57,573/yr
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,573 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°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 25% higher than Athens-Clarke County
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
15% lower
406.1 vs 477.1 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Median Home Value
$533k less
$242,300 vs $775,700
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$57,573
$105,371 vs $47,798/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 31.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 16.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 160,602 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Athens-Clarke County is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Athens-Clarke County leads 13 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 13 and Hayward wins 10. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $775,700 median home), income ($47,798 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Hayward, CA are about 2,170 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.