Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Hayward leads 12 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602
Minneapolis
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Households earn $29,039 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 22°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 83°F
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)
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Homes cost $447k less ($328,700 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $993/mo less ($1,267 vs $2,260)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $29,039/yr
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$29,039
$105,371 vs $76,332/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
59% lower
477.1 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Minneapolis
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Minneapolis
Median Home Value
$447k less
$328,700 vs $775,700
Minneapolis
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 83.1°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $328,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 83.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 33.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Minneapolis is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hayward leads 12 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 12 and Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $328,700 median home), income ($105,371 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.