Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,837 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than North Charleston
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 91°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
Cost of living runs 20% higher than North Charleston
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Homes cost $532k less ($243,300 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $972/mo less ($1,288 vs $2,260)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $46,837/yr
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$46,837
$105,371 vs $58,534/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
41% lower
477.1 vs 810.5 per 100k
North Charleston
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
North Charleston
Median Home Value
$532k less
$243,300 vs $775,700
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
North Charleston
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 98.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,288 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 24.6 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 | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 26.7% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
North Charleston is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hayward leads 12 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 12 and North Charleston 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 North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($105,371 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and North Charleston, SC are about 2,374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.