Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hayward, CA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Hayward leads 12 of 23 categories
Hayward
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,371 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
160,602 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hayward, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,637 more per year on average
12% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 31.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 88°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)
Yakima, WA
Pros
Homes cost $532k less ($243,300 vs $775,700)
Rent averages $1246/mo less ($1,014 vs $2,260)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hayward
Smaller class sizes — 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hayward by $49,637/yr
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hayward
Median Income
$49,637
$105,371 vs $55,734/yr
Hayward
Violent Crime
12% lower
477.1 vs 544.3 per 100k
Hayward
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$532k less
$243,300 vs $775,700
Yakima
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 74.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hayward, CA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $775,700⚠ High | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,260⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,371 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.2 min⚠ High | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 174⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.3:1 | 17.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.5% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hayward Unified | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.7°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 160,602 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 37.6 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hayward's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hayward leads 12 of 23 categories. Hayward wins 12 and Yakima wins 11. 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($775,700 vs $243,300 median home), income ($105,371 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hayward, CA and Yakima, WA are about 624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.