Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Jersey City leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Jersey City
New Jersey
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$91,151
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Jersey City
Households earn $14,220 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
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)
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($500,100 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,799 vs $2,260)
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hayward by $14,220/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$14,220
$105,371 vs $91,151/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
15% lower
477.1 vs 561.6 per 100k
Jersey City
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Jersey City
Median Home Value
$276k less
$500,100 vs $775,700
Jersey City
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $500,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,799⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $91,151 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Jersey City is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 13 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 10 and Jersey City wins 13. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $500,100 median home), income ($105,371 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Jersey City, NJ are about 2,550 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.