Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Sioux Falls, SD
🏆 Sioux Falls leads 16 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602
Sioux Falls
South Dakota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,785
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
193,401 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,586 more per year on average
9% less violent crime than Sioux Falls
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 25°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Sioux Falls
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Sioux Falls, SD
Pros
Homes cost $526k less ($250,000 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1295/mo less ($965 vs $2,260)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (2.3%)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.3)
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $33,586/yr
Violent crime (526.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2915.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$33,586
$105,371 vs $71,785/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
9% lower
477.1 vs 526.7 per 100k
Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 90.3 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Sioux Falls
Median Home Value
$526k less
$250,000 vs $775,700
Sioux Falls
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
2.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Sioux Falls
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.8°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Sioux Falls, SD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 90.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $250,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $965 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $71,785 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 2.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 16.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 25.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 84.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 28.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 193,401 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Sioux Falls's 90.3 (US average = 100).
Sioux Falls is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sioux Falls leads 16 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 7 and Sioux Falls wins 16. 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 Sioux Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $250,000 median home), income ($105,371 vs $71,785), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Sioux Falls, SD are about 1,386 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.