Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Overland Park, KS
🏆 Overland Park leads 19 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602
Overland Park
Kansas
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$100,876
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
196,676 ✓ Larger
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
Households earn $4,495 more per year on average
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 25% higher than Overland Park
Overland Park, KS
Pros
Homes cost $414k less ($361,800 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $882/mo less ($1,378 vs $2,260)
61% less violent crime than Hayward
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
More college-educated — 62.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $4,495/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$4,495
$105,371 vs $100,876/yr
Overland Park
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Overland Park
Violent Crime
61% lower
184.4 vs 477.1 per 100k
Overland Park
Median Home Value
$414k less
$361,800 vs $775,700
Overland Park
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Overland Park
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Overland Park, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $361,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,378⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $100,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 19.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 13.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 62.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 97.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Blue Valley |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 40.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 196,676 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 38.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Overland Park's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Overland Park is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Overland Park leads 19 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 4 and Overland Park wins 19. 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 Overland Park or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $361,800 median home), income ($105,371 vs $100,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Overland Park, KS are about 1,484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.