Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Long Beach leads 13 of 22 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
Long Beach
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Long Beach
Households earn $26,376 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 81°F
Smaller class sizes — 21.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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)
Property crime (3656.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Rent averages $562/mo less ($1,698 vs $2,260)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Homes cost $66k less ($709,700 vs $775,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 59°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $26,376/yr
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3478.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$26,376
$105,371 vs $78,995/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
29% lower
477.1 vs 676.4 per 100k
Hayward
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Long Beach
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 115.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Long Beach
Median Home Value
$66k less
$709,700 vs $775,700
Long Beach
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 81.4°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 115.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $709,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $78,995 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 81.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Long Beach is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Long Beach leads 13 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 9 and Long Beach 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $709,700 median home), income ($105,371 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Long Beach, CA are about 345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.