Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Edinburg leads 12 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Hayward
California
11
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $616k less ($159,600 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1340/mo less ($920 vs $2,260)
33% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
43% less violent crime than Hayward
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $51,232/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.7%)
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,232 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 97°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 33% higher than Edinburg
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
33% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
43% lower
269.6 vs 477.1 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$616k less
$159,600 vs $775,700
Edinburg
Summer Heat
22.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$51,232
$105,371 vs $54,139/yr
Hayward
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 31.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 59.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 16.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 160,602 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 33% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 12 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 12 and Hayward wins 11. 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 Edinburg to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $775,700 median home), income ($54,139 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Hayward, CA are about 1,599 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.