Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Goodyear leads 19 of 21 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Hayward
California
2
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.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $380k less ($396,100 vs $775,700)
62% less violent crime than Hayward
Rent averages $549/mo less ($1,711 vs $2,260)
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Median income trails Hayward by $8,064/yr
Hayward, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 107°F
Households earn $8,064 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Violent Crime
62% lower
182.2 vs 477.1 per 100k
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$380k less
$396,100 vs $775,700
Goodyear
Summer Heat
32.7°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$8,064
$105,371 vs $97,307/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 11.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 31.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 59.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 16.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 160,602 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 19 of 21 categories. Goodyear wins 19 and Hayward wins 2. 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 Goodyear to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $775,700 median home), income ($97,307 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Hayward, CA are about 625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.