Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 South Fulton leads 14 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,883 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 90°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 54°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)
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Homes cost $534k less ($242,200 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $799/mo less ($1,461 vs $2,260)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $27,883/yr
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$27,883
$105,371 vs $77,488/yr
Hayward
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$534k less
$242,200 vs $775,700
South Fulton
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 32.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.5% ✓ 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 | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Fulton leads 14 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 9 and South Fulton wins 14. 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $242,200 median home), income ($105,371 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and South Fulton, GA are about 2,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.