Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 20 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602
Plano
Texas
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
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 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Plano, TX
Pros
Homes cost $363k less ($412,500 vs $775,700)
68% less violent crime than Hayward
Rent averages $561/mo less ($1,699 vs $2,260)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.4%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Plano
Violent Crime
68% lower
151.6 vs 477.1 per 100k
Plano
Median Home Value
$363k less
$412,500 vs $775,700
Plano
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.7% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $412,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,699⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Plano is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 20 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 3 and Plano wins 20. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $412,500 median home), income ($105,371 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Plano, TX are about 1,459 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.