Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Hayward
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602
Houston
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,931 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 93°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
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $541k less ($235,000 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1025/mo less ($1,235 vs $2,260)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $44,931/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$44,931
$105,371 vs $60,440/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
58% lower
477.1 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Hayward
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$541k less
$235,000 vs $775,700
Houston
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Hayward wins 11 and Houston 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 Hayward to Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $235,000 median home), income ($105,371 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Houston, TX are about 1,622 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.