Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 15 of 22 categories
Hayward
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,184 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 37°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
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $604k less ($171,800 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1107/mo less ($1,153 vs $2,260)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
10% less violent crime than Hayward
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $45,184/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$45,184
$105,371 vs $60,187/yr
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
10% lower
427.2 vs 477.1 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$604k less
$171,800 vs $775,700
Pittsburgh
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ 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 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 15 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 7 and Pittsburgh wins 15. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $171,800 median home), income ($105,371 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 2,248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.