Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Hayward leads 14 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Hayward
California
14
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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $690k less ($86,200 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1430/mo less ($830 vs $2,260)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $63,928/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.7%)
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $63,928 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Dayton
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$690k less
$86,200 vs $775,700
Dayton
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.7°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$63,928
$105,371 vs $41,443/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
64% lower
477.1 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Hayward
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 31.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 16.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 160,602 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hayward leads 14 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 9 and Hayward wins 14. 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 Dayton to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $775,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Hayward, CA are about 2,034 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.