Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,521 more per year on average
55% less violent crime than Lafayette
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Cost of living runs 31% higher than Lafayette
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $541k less ($234,900 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1238/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,260)
31% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $46,521/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$46,521
$105,371 vs $58,850/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
55% lower
477.1 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lafayette
Cost of Living
31% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$541k less
$234,900 vs $775,700
Lafayette
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ 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 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 31% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 10 and Lafayette wins 12. 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $234,900 median home), income ($105,371 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,790 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.