Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Hayward leads 13 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $61,787 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 32°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 82°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 23% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $658k less ($117,900 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1328/mo less ($932 vs $2,260)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $61,787/yr
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$61,787
$105,371 vs $43,584/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
38% lower
477.1 vs 765.3 per 100k
Hayward
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.6% unemployment
Syracuse
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$658k less
$117,900 vs $775,700
Syracuse
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 81.7°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 84.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 81.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 43.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hayward leads 13 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 13 and Syracuse wins 10. 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $117,900 median home), income ($105,371 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Syracuse, NY are about 2,419 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.