Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cape Coral, FL
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Cape Coral leads 13 of 19 categories
Cape Coral
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,474
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,912 ✓ Larger
Hayward
California
6
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.
Cape Coral, FL
Pros
Homes cost $473k less ($302,400 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $630/mo less ($1,630 vs $2,260)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 59°F
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $32,897/yr
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,897 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°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
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cape Coral
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 104.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Cape Coral
Median Home Value
$473k less
$302,400 vs $775,700
Cape Coral
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Cape Coral
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.6°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$32,897
$105,371 vs $72,474/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cape Coral, FL | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $302,400 ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,630⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,474 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.6 min⚠ High ✓ 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 | — | 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 | C+ (87) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.6% | 31.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEE | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.0°F ✓ Warmer | 59.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.6°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.4" | 16.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,912 ✓ Larger | 160,602 |
| Median Age | 48.2 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 24.7% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cape Coral's cost of living index is 104.9 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Cape Coral is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Cape Coral leads 13 of 19 categories. Cape Coral wins 13 and Hayward wins 6. 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 Cape Coral to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($302,400 vs $775,700 median home), income ($72,474 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cape Coral, FL and Hayward, CA are about 2,445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.