Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 17 of 22 categories
Hayward
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 93°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)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $465k less ($311,100 vs $775,700)
80% less violent crime than Hayward
Rent averages $638/mo less ($1,622 vs $2,260)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.2%)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Pearland
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$5,752
$111,123 vs $105,371/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
80% lower
95.9 vs 477.1 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$465k less
$311,100 vs $775,700
Pearland
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
18.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,622⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 33.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 17 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 5 and Pearland 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $311,100 median home), income ($105,371 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Pearland, TX are about 1,632 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.