Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greeley, CO
VS
Hayward, CA
🏆 Greeley leads 12 of 22 categories
Greeley
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,525
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
107,949
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greeley, CO
Pros
Homes cost $429k less ($346,400 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1052/mo less ($1,208 vs $2,260)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $39,846/yr
Violent crime (670.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3019.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,846 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Greeley
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 44°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
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Greeley
Key Differences at a Glance
Greeley
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 96.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Greeley
Median Home Value
$429k less
$346,400 vs $775,700
Greeley
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 74.7°F
Hayward
Median Income
$39,846
$105,371 vs $65,525/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
29% lower
477.1 vs 670.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greeley, CO | Hayward, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $346,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $775,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,208 ✓ Lower | $2,260⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,525 | $105,371 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter | 34.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 163⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.8% | 31.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.6% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GreeleySchool District No. 6 in the county of Weld and Sta | Hayward Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.1°F | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.4" ✓ Drier | 16.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,949 | 160,602 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.6% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greeley's cost of living index is 96.0 vs Hayward's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Greeley is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Greeley leads 12 of 22 categories. Greeley wins 12 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 Greeley to Hayward or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($346,400 vs $775,700 median home), income ($65,525 vs $105,371), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greeley, CO and Hayward, CA are about 949 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.