Hayward, CA vs San Jose, CA: Crime Rate Comparison (2025)
A side-by-side look at reported crime in Hayward and San Jose, on the FBI-based Crime Index (0–100, higher = safer) for 2025.
Hayward and San Jose are neck and neck
Both score 56/100 on the Crime Index for 2025. The difference is in the mix: Hayward wins 3 of 8 offense categories, San Jose wins 5.
Hayward, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 157,399
- Violent / 100k
- 459
- Property / 100k
- 2,673
- In California
- #142 of 175
San Jose, CA
Crime Index
- Population
- 994,435
- Violent / 100k
- 505
- Property / 100k
- 2,399
- In California
- #144 of 175
Crime rates head-to-head
| Metric | Hayward | San Jose | US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Index (higher = safer) | 56D | 56D | 73C |
| Violent crime /100k | 459 | 505 | 315 |
| Property crime /100k | 2,673 | 2,399 | 1,487 |
| Homicide /100k | 4.5 | 2.4 | 4.1 |
| Total reported /100k | 3,132 | 2,904 | 1,802 |
Grade shown per index band (88–100 = A … 0–29 = F). Rates are reported offenses per 100,000 residents.
By offense
Rate per 100,000 residents — the lower (safer) city is highlighted.
| Offense | Hayward | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4.4 | 2.4 |
| Rape | 52.7 | 55.8 |
| Robbery | 130 | 111 |
| Aggravated assault | 272 | 335 |
| Burglary | 302 | 338 |
| Larceny-theft | 1,604 | 1,524 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 748 | 519 |
| Arson | 19.1 | 17.6 |
Crime trends
Hayward
San Jose
Frequently asked questions
Is Hayward or San Jose safer?
Which has more violent crime, Hayward or San Jose?
What are the odds of violent crime in Hayward vs San Jose?
No area has zero risk
A high Crime Index score means lower reported crime relative to other US cities — it is not a guarantee of safety. Reported crime is not the same as actual crime. Research on the gap between crime that occurs and crime that gets reported to police — often called the "dark figure" of crime — estimates that roughly 40% of violent crime and about a third of property crime go unreported each year. Every index built on official statistics, including this one, necessarily undercounts real crime. That gap is exactly why homicide — the offense with the smallest dark figure — anchors the calculation instead of a more commonly reported but less reliable category like theft.
Scores on this page reflect FBI-reported data for 2025. See the full methodology →
Protecting yourself in Hayward & San Jose
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