Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Hayward
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,363 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 85°F
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $413k less ($362,800 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $794/mo less ($1,466 vs $2,260)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $32,363/yr
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$32,363
$105,371 vs $73,008/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
10% lower
477.1 vs 532.5 per 100k
Lowell
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 111.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lowell
Median Home Value
$413k less
$362,800 vs $775,700
Lowell
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 84.7°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 111.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $73,008 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 84.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 48.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lowell is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Hayward wins 11 and Lowell wins 11. 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 Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $362,800 median home), income ($105,371 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Lowell, MA are about 2,664 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.