Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk 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
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,613 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°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 21% higher than Suffolk
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $461k less ($314,400 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $884/mo less ($1,376 vs $2,260)
22% less violent crime than Hayward
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $17,613/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$17,613
$105,371 vs $87,758/yr
Hayward
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Suffolk
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Violent Crime
22% lower
371.0 vs 477.1 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$461k less
$314,400 vs $775,700
Suffolk
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 37.6 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 16 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 7 and Suffolk 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($105,371 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Suffolk, VA are about 2,480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.