Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Hayward leads 11 of 21 categories
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
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,474 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 94°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
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $621k less ($155,200 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1293/mo less ($967 vs $2,260)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $56,474/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$56,474
$105,371 vs $48,897/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
68% lower
477.1 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Hayward
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$621k less
$155,200 vs $775,700
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
18.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 59.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 156,554 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Hayward leads 11 of 21 categories. Hayward wins 11 and Macon-Bibb County wins 10. 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $155,200 median home), income ($105,371 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 2,178 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.