Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Tacoma 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 ✓ Safer
Population
160,602
Tacoma
Washington
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Tacoma
Households earn $26,286 more per year on average
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)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $360k less ($415,300 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $771/mo less ($1,489 vs $2,260)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hayward by $26,286/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$26,286
$105,371 vs $79,085/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
55% lower
477.1 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Tacoma
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$360k less
$415,300 vs $775,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 76.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tacoma leads 14 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 9 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($105,371 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Tacoma, WA are about 665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.