Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 New Bedford leads 12 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,767 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°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)
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Homes cost $484k less ($291,300 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1234/mo less ($1,026 vs $2,260)
26% less violent crime than Hayward
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $50,767/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$50,767
$105,371 vs $54,604/yr
Hayward
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
New Bedford
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
New Bedford
Violent Crime
26% lower
353.2 vs 477.1 per 100k
New Bedford
Median Home Value
$484k less
$291,300 vs $775,700
New Bedford
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $291,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, New Bedford leads 12 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 11 and New Bedford wins 12. 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 New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $291,300 median home), income ($105,371 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and New Bedford, MA are about 2,696 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.