Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 14 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Lakewood
Households earn $22,585 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 86°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)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($494,100 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $595/mo less ($1,665 vs $2,260)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hayward by $22,585/yr
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$22,585
$105,371 vs $82,786/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
39% lower
477.1 vs 787.2 per 100k
Lakewood
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lakewood
Median Home Value
$282k less
$494,100 vs $775,700
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Lakewood
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.9°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $82,786 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 85.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 17.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lakewood is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 14 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 9 and Lakewood wins 14. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $494,100 median home), income ($105,371 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Lakewood, CO are about 926 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.