Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
League City, TX
🏆 League City leads 18 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
League City
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$117,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
113,469
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°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)
League City, TX
Pros
Homes cost $463k less ($312,500 vs $775,700)
78% less violent crime than Hayward
Rent averages $662/mo less ($1,598 vs $2,260)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Violent crime is well below the national average (103.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
League City
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
League City
Median Income
$11,945
$117,316 vs $105,371/yr
League City
Violent Crime
78% lower
103.5 vs 477.1 per 100k
League City
Median Home Value
$463k less
$312,500 vs $775,700
League City
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
League City
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | League City, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $312,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,598⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 | $117,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 29.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 55 ✓ 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 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 95.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | CLEAR CREEK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 58.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 113,469 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs League City's 100.2 (US average = 100).
League City is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, League City leads 18 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 5 and League City wins 18. 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 League City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $312,500 median home), income ($105,371 vs $117,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and League City, TX are about 1,646 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.