Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Victorville, CA
🏆 Hayward leads 14 of 22 categories
Hayward
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Victorville
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,746
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
134,417
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,625 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Victorville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 98°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)
Victorville, CA
Pros
Homes cost $475k less ($300,600 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $799/mo less ($1,461 vs $2,260)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $39,625/yr
Violent crime (1015.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.3% vs 5.7%)
Longer commutes — 40.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$39,625
$105,371 vs $65,746/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
53% lower
477.1 vs 1015.6 per 100k
Hayward
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 10.3% unemployment
Victorville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Victorville
Median Home Value
$475k less
$300,600 vs $775,700
Victorville
Summer Heat
22.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Victorville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $300,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,461⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $65,746 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 40.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 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 | 267⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 77.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Victor Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" | 5.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 134,417 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 59.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 30.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Victorville's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Victorville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hayward leads 14 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 14 and Victorville wins 8. 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 Victorville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $300,600 median home), income ($105,371 vs $65,746), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Victorville, CA are about 341 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.