Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 17 of 22 categories
Hayward
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
160,602
Tampa
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,569 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 91°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)
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $443k less ($333,200 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $838/mo less ($1,422 vs $2,260)
7% less violent crime than Hayward
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $38,569/yr
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$38,569
$105,371 vs $66,802/yr
Tampa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Violent Crime
7% lower
444.6 vs 477.1 per 100k
Tampa
Median Home Value
$443k less
$333,200 vs $775,700
Tampa
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tampa
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 17 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 5 and Tampa wins 17. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $333,200 median home), income ($105,371 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Tampa, FL are about 2,377 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.