Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Hayward leads 14 of 22 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
Kent
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $18,405 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Kent, WA
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($478,400 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $518/mo less ($1,742 vs $2,260)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hayward by $18,405/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$18,405
$105,371 vs $86,966/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
3% lower
477.1 vs 489.7 per 100k
Hayward
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
Kent
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Kent
Median Home Value
$297k less
$478,400 vs $775,700
Kent
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 78.3°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,742⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $86,966 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 30.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 78.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 44.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 135,169 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Kent is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hayward leads 14 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 14 and Kent wins 8. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $478,400 median home), income ($105,371 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Kent, WA are about 674 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.