Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Garland leads 14 of 23 categories
Garland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,044
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Hayward
California
9
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $547k less ($229,000 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $839/mo less ($1,421 vs $2,260)
51% less violent crime than Hayward
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $34,327/yr
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,327 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°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
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Garland
Violent Crime
51% lower
232.7 vs 477.1 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$547k less
$229,000 vs $775,700
Garland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$34,327
$105,371 vs $71,044/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 31.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 82.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 16.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 160,602 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Garland is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Garland leads 14 of 23 categories. Garland wins 14 and Hayward wins 9. 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 Garland to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $775,700 median home), income ($71,044 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Hayward, CA are about 1,469 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.