Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney 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
McKinney
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
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 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
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)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Homes cost $375k less ($400,400 vs $775,700)
75% less violent crime than Hayward
Rent averages $520/mo less ($1,740 vs $2,260)
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
McKinney
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
McKinney
Median Income
$7,915
$113,286 vs $105,371/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
75% lower
117.3 vs 477.1 per 100k
McKinney
Median Home Value
$375k less
$400,400 vs $775,700
McKinney
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
McKinney
Summer Heat
19.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $400,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,740⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 56.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
McKinney is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 18 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 5 and McKinney 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 McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $400,400 median home), income ($105,371 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and McKinney, TX are about 1,460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.