Hayward vs Oakland
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $854,400 in Hayward and $929,900 in Oakland.
- Households earn more in Hayward ($113,318 vs $101,600 median).
- Oakland is growing faster: +0% since 2020 vs -3.6%.
Side by side
| Hayward, CA | Oakland, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 157,113 | 440,838 |
| Growth since 2020 | -3.6% | +0% |
| People per square mile | 3,429 | 7,877 |
| Median age | 38.6 | 37.9 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34% | 49% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $113,318 | $101,600 |
| Median home value | $854,400 | $929,900 |
| Home value to income | 7.5× | 9.2× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $2,391 | $1,979 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 115.6 | 115.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 194.7 | 194.7 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $86,700 | $86,700 |
| Homeowners | 58% | 42% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 32.3 | 29.8 |
| Work from home | 14% | 27% |
| Take public transit | 4% | 13% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.3% | 6.4% |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 13.4% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 59° / 43° | 60° / 45° |
| July high / low | 75° / 57° | 72° / 57° |
| Precipitation per year | 16 in | 23 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 9 | 5 |
| Nights below freezing | 1 | 0 |
| Comfortable months | 9 | 10 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Very High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 99.8 | 99.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | n/a | n/a |
| Home prices, past year | -4.8% | -4.8% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +8.2% | +8.2% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Hayward: March to November. Oakland: February to November.
Full monthly tables: Hayward weather by month and Oakland weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $86,700 in Hayward and $86,700 in Oakland. Moving from Hayward to Oakland, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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