Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Hayward
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $459k less ($316,600 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $964/mo less ($1,296 vs $2,260)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $30,661/yr
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,661 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Durham
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°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 22% higher than Durham
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$459k less
$316,600 vs $775,700
Durham
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Durham
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.0°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$30,661
$105,371 vs $74,710/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
23% lower
477.1 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 31.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 16.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 160,602 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Durham is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 23 categories. Durham 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 Durham to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $775,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Hayward, CA are about 2,372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.