Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories
Hayward
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Homes cost $905k less ($775,700 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $730/mo less ($2,260 vs $2,990)
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $69,135/yr
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)
Property crime (3656.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $69,135 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Hayward
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Home Value
$905k less
$775,700 vs $1,680,700
Sunnyvale
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 112.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$69,135
$174,506 vs $105,371/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
49% lower
244.5 vs 477.1 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 112.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 64 ✓ 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) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 154,573 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Sunnyvale is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 9 and Sunnyvale wins 13. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($105,371 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Sunnyvale, CA are about 17 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.