Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Homes cost $278k less ($497,400 vs $775,700)
43% less violent crime than Hayward
Rent averages $684/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,260)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $26,394/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,394 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
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
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
43% lower
272.7 vs 477.1 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$278k less
$497,400 vs $775,700
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$26,394
$105,371 vs $78,977/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 31.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" | 16.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 160,602 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 56.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 15 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 Fort Collins to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $775,700 median home), income ($78,977 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Hayward, CA are about 934 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.