Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Corona, CA
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Corona leads 14 of 22 categories
Corona
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,727
Violent Crime Index
66 ✓ Safer
Population
158,346
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Corona, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Hayward
Homes cost $152k less ($624,200 vs $775,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (249.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $240/mo less ($2,020 vs $2,260)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Property crime (3656.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Corona
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Corona
Violent Crime
48% lower
249.4 vs 477.1 per 100k
Corona
Median Home Value
$152k less
$624,200 vs $775,700
Corona
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Corona
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.7°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$1,644
$105,371 vs $103,727/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Corona, CA | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $624,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,020⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,727 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.3 min⚠ High | 34.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.0% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.5% | 31.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Corona-Norco Unified | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.7°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.3" ✓ Drier | 16.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 158,346 | 160,602 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.1% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Corona's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Corona is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Corona leads 14 of 22 categories. Corona wins 14 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 Corona to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($624,200 vs $775,700 median home), income ($103,727 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Corona, CA and Hayward, CA are about 364 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.