Signals
Lafayette
Hayward
Opportunity
60 · Top 43%
vs52 · Bottom 41%
Climate
89 · Top 8%
vs89 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
23 · Bottom 17%
vs36 · Bottom 29%
Housing affordability
56 · Bottom 16%
vs46 · Bottom 8%
Access
97 · Top 21%
vs99 · Top 8%
Economic stability
75 · Top 18%
vs65 · Top 40%
Measured values
| Metric | Lafayette | Hayward | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,285 | 158,801 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $228,250 | $113,318 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $123,402 | $45,923 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,683/sq mi | 3,466/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $2,000,001 | $854,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,892 | $2,391 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.1% | 58.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 79.0% | 34.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.9% | 9.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 75°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 43°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 16.1" | 16.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 35.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.7 | 38.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 36 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 21.05 | 21.95 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 5.4% | 73.4% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lafayette
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Hayward
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Lafayette, CA · Hayward, CA · How this is calculated: methodology