Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 14 of 22 categories
Hayward
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $22,433 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°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)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($423,500 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $734/mo less ($1,526 vs $2,260)
17% less violent crime than Hayward
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Smaller class sizes — 19.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $22,433/yr
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$22,433
$105,371 vs $82,938/yr
Sparks
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Violent Crime
17% lower
394.4 vs 477.1 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$352k less
$423,500 vs $775,700
Sparks
Summer Heat
17.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $82,938 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 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 | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sparks leads 14 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 8 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $423,500 median home), income ($105,371 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Sparks, NV are about 186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.