Share

Hayward vs San Jose Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Hayward crime rate · San Jose crime rate

Moving from Hayward, CA to San Jose, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Is Hayward or San Jose Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, San Jose is safer than Hayward (Safety Score 16/100 vs 8/100), with a total crime rate of 3,195 per 100,000 versus 4,134 for Hayward — 23% lower. Hayward has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where San Jose has a 65% lower rate.

Note: San Jose is 6.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Hayward, CA?

Hayward — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

San Jose — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Hayward, CA

Hayward, CA
Safety Score 8/100
Coverage 153,419
Total Crime Rate 4,133.8
Category Wins 2/7

San Jose, CA

San Jose, CA
Safety Score 16/100
Coverage 956,840
Total Crime Rate 3,194.8
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Hayward San Jose Difference
Total Crime Rate 4,133.8 3,194.8 +939.0
Violent Crime Rate 477.1 606.9 -129.8
Murder Rate 7.8 2.7 +5.1
Rape Rate 46.9 77.3 -30.4
Robbery Rate 174.0 140.8 +33.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 248.3 386.0 -137.6
Property Crime Rate 3,656.7 2,587.9 +1,068.8
Burglary Rate 364.4 427.0 -62.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,915.7 1,523.2 +392.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 1,376.6 637.6 +739.0

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Hayward, CA to San Jose, CA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hayward or San Jose safer?

San Jose is safer with a total crime rate of 3,195 per 100K vs 4,134 for Hayward — a 23% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Hayward has a violent crime rate of 477.1 per 100K while San Jose has 606.9. Hayward has lower violent crime.

About Hayward, CA

Hayward, a diverse city in Alameda County, sits on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. Home to California State University, East Bay, it was once a major agricultural producer, especially known for its cherries and tomatoes. Its population is over 160,000 residents. With a safety score of 8/100 and a population coverage of 153,419, Hayward has a total crime rate of 4,133.8 per 100,000 residents.

About San Jose, CA

San Jose, the largest city in Northern California, is a diverse Silicon Valley hub with a rich history, once serving as California's first state capital. Located at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, its population reflects a broad range of ethnicities and income levels. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 956,840, San Jose has a total crime rate of 3,194.8 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons