Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 14 of 22 categories
Hayward
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602
Wichita
Kansas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,659 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Wichita
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 44°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $775,700
Higher rents — median is $2,260/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Wichita
Violent crime (477.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $609k less ($166,400 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1345/mo less ($915 vs $2,260)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $44,659/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$44,659
$105,371 vs $60,712/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
11% lower
477.1 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$609k less
$166,400 vs $775,700
Wichita
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" ✓ Drier | 35.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 29% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wichita leads 14 of 22 categories. Hayward wins 8 and Wichita 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $166,400 median home), income ($105,371 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Wichita, KS are about 1,350 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.