Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Augusta-Richmond County leads 12 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Hayward
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $634k less ($141,900 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1237/mo less ($1,023 vs $2,260)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $54,879/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.7%)
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,879 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°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 27% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$634k less
$141,900 vs $775,700
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$54,879
$105,371 vs $50,492/yr
Hayward
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 174⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 31.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F ✓ Warmer | 59.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" | 16.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 160,602 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Augusta-Richmond County leads 12 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 12 and Hayward wins 8. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $775,700 median home), income ($50,492 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Hayward, CA are about 2,254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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