Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Kansas City, KS
🏆 Hayward leads 14 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Kansas City
Kansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,251 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Kansas City
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 90°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
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Kansas City
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $642k less ($133,800 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1216/mo less ($1,044 vs $2,260)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $49,251/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$49,251
$105,371 vs $56,120/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
54% lower
477.1 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Kansas City
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$642k less
$133,800 vs $775,700
Kansas City
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Kansas City, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $133,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,044 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $56,120 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 276⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 80.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Kansas City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 38.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 11.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 155,438 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Kansas City's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hayward leads 14 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 14 and Kansas City 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 Hayward to Kansas City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $133,800 median home), income ($105,371 vs $56,120), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Kansas City, KS are about 1,480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.