Alameda County
Hayward
Lower entry price, BART access to both bays
Overview
Hayward sits in central Alameda County with quick access to both the East Bay and South Bay via I-880 and BART, and is often the first stop for buyers priced out of Fremont and points south.
Typical home price
$883K
Condo / townhome price
$475K
Starter home price
Data coming soon
Typical HOA
Data coming soon
Commute & access
Typical drive and transit times to common Bay Area destinations.
| Destination | Drive | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 30–55 min | BART ~40 min |
| Oakland | 15–20 min | BART ~20 min |
| San Jose | 25–35 min | Limited |
Schools
Top-rated campuses serving this city, by district. See the full School Ratings Finder for every campus and filter.
| School | District | Level | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Eden High School | Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) | high | B |
| Stonebrae Elementary School | Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) | elementary | B |
| Hayward High School | Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) | high | B- |
| Tennyson High School | Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) | high | C |
| East Avenue Middle School | Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) | middle | C |
| Winton Middle School | Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) | middle | C- |
| Cesar Chavez Middle School | Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) | middle | C- |
| Brenkwitz High School | Hayward Unified School District (HUSD) | alternative | D |
New construction
Where builders are actively selling or planning homes.
- SoHay condos (Taylor Morrison) near South Hayward BART, part of the downtown revitalization push
Pros
- BART access to both East Bay and South Bay
- Lower entry price than Fremont
- Condo/townhome supply for a lower down payment
Cons
- School ratings run lower than nearby cities (Hayward High and Tennyson High both rate below average)
- Crime runs higher citywide, though hillside pockets like Hayward Highland and Fairway Park test safer — verify by exact address
- Longer BART ride than inner East Bay cities
Nearby alternatives
Other first-home markets worth comparing.