Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Little Rock, AR
🏆 Little Rock leads 13 of 23 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
Little Rock
Arkansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,697
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,674 more per year on average
71% less violent crime than Little Rock
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Little Rock
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Homes cost $570k less ($205,800 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1254/mo less ($1,006 vs $2,260)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $46,674/yr
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$46,674
$105,371 vs $58,697/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
71% lower
477.1 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Little Rock
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 89.1 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Little Rock
Median Home Value
$570k less
$205,800 vs $775,700
Little Rock
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Little Rock, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 89.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $205,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,006 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $58,697 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 18.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 363⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 440⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 52.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 202,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 54.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Little Rock's 89.1 (US average = 100).
Little Rock is 29% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Little Rock leads 13 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 10 and Little Rock wins 13. 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 Little Rock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $205,800 median home), income ($105,371 vs $58,697), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Little Rock, AR are about 1,664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.