Hayward, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Hayward, CA.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Hayward, CA?
Hayward planning snapshot: population 158,440, housing index 223 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $820,700, median rent $2,360, and income near $113,775. Expect 75°F summer highs, 44°F winter lows, and about 34-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 341.6 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 223U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $820,700U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $2,360U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $113,775U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.6%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 34 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 341.6per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 75°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Hayward compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 158,440City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $113,775Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year45% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 223ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year123% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $820,700City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year171% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,360City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year75% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.6%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 34 min36% above catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 5420% above catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 341.6per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)39% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 3023.7per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)Near catalog avg (3005.3)Catalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 75°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals12.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 44°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals9.0 pts above catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 16 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals52% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 306As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14% above catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Hayward grew 9.4% from 144,835 in 2010 to 158,440 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Hayward, CA expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Hayward's housing cost index is 223 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($820,700 vs $303,400) and rents ($2,360 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 223 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $820,700 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $2,360 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Hayward, CA?
Typical ownership costs center near $820,700, while median gross rent is about $2,360 a month. Against a median household income of $113,775, rent alone is roughly 25% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $820,700
- Median rent $2,360/month
- Median household income $113,775
What is the job market like in Hayward, CA?
County unemployment recently ran 4.6% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Hayward is about $113,775 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.6% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $113,775
How long is the typical commute in Hayward, CA?
Average one-way commute time is about 34 minutes, with Walk Score near 54/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 34 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 54/100
Is Hayward, CA safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 341.6 per 100k and property about 3023.7 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 341.6 per 100k
- Property 3023.7 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Hayward, CA?
Normals show summer highs near 75°F, winter lows near 44°F, about 16 inches of rain, and roughly 306 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 75°F
- Winter low 44°F
- 16 in rain · 306 sunny days
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 306 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 34 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 54/100. Labor-market readings near 4.6% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates around 341.6 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Hayward, California counts about 158,440 residents inside the city limits. With median income around $113,775 and a cost index of 223, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $820,700 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Hayward is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Hayward with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Hayward city, 1600000US0633000) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Alameda County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00093228 HAYWARD AIR TERMINAL) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19