Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 17 of 22 categories
Hayward
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 39°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 88°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
Cost of living runs 22% higher than O'Fallon
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Homes cost $492k less ($283,600 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $949/mo less ($1,311 vs $2,260)
88% less violent crime than Hayward
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$508
$105,371 vs $104,863/yr
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
88% lower
59.0 vs 477.1 per 100k
O'Fallon
Median Home Value
$492k less
$283,600 vs $775,700
O'Fallon
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
O'Fallon
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $283,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,311 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $104,863 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 17 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 5 and O'Fallon wins 17. 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 O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $283,600 median home), income ($105,371 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and O'Fallon, MO are about 1,697 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.