Photo: Mercurywoodrose · CC BY-SA 3.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Hayward is healthier than 38%
Hayward beats California on 4 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and trails on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Hayward. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Hayward
Against towns with similar incomes, Hayward’s lead shrinks
Hayward is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, but 38% of the 6,701 towns with similar household incomes ($85K–$142K). Part of its edge is what towns with its incomes tend to have. Health Grade ↓
Cancer and COPD are less common in Hayward
Hayward runs below California on cancer (4.7% vs 6.4%), COPD (4.2% vs 5.1%) and heart disease (4.7% vs 5.6%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Hayward’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
What’s behind Hayward’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hayward is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns, #374 of 847 in California. Obesity holds the grade up (fewer adults with obesity than 95% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 31%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Hayward’s median household income is $113,318; among the 6,701 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($85K–$142K), it’s healthier than 38%, less than its income alone would suggest.
At 157,113 residents, Hayward is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Out of every 100 Hayward adults…
Hayward runs below CA on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Hayward
1 hospital and 4 community health centers in Hayward, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Hayward; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
70 miles of trails across 46 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Hayward adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
How Hayward adults are doing
About the same as California on each measure.
2 in 5 Hayward adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.2% of Hayward adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Hayward and the towns around it
Hayward’s Health Grade ranks 7th of 10 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward | B+ | 24.9% | 11.7% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| Castro Valley | A− | 22.9% | 10.9% | 9.6% | CDC place |
| Fairview | A− | 24.9% | 11.1% | 9.3% | CDC place |
| Cherryland | C+ | 29% | 12.4% | 13% | CDC place |
| Union City | A | 19% | 11.8% | 8.6% | CDC place |
| San Lorenzo | B+ | 24.6% | 12.1% | 10.8% | CDC place |
| Fremont | A+ | 17.3% | 9.8% | 7.3% | CDC place |
| Pleasanton | A+ | 19.6% | 9.2% | 7.1% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Hayward adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Hayward
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Hayward is better than California on 4 and worse on 0; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Hayward’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Hayward | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 21.9%19.6–24.4 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.9%11.5–14.4 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 16.8%15.1–18.7 | 16.4% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 24.9%21.1–29.3 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 11.7%10.3–13.3 | 11.7% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 27.6%24.8–30.7 | 30.5% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 32.3%29.3–35.7 | 35.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 18%16–20.2 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 9%8–10.2 | 9.3% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 4.7%4.3–5.2 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.7%4.3–5.2 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.2%3.8–4.7 | 5.1% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 2.8%2.6–3.1 | 3.1% | 3.4% | About the same |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 9.5%7.7–11.5 | 10.6% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10.8%9.4–12.4 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 24.5%21.4–28.2 | 24.6% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 15.8%13.5–18.5 | 15.3% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.7%32.6–41 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 11.4%10.1–12.8 | 10.6% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.2%66.8–73.6 | 71.9% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 60.6%57.5–63.6 | 62.8% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84.8%83.1–86.4 | 85.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 68.4%65.2–71.7 | 71.3% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 56.2%51.8–60.6 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.7%66.9–79.9 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 18.7%16.3–21.4 | 20.1% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 40.7%36.4–45 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 31.3%27.8–35 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 19.8%17.6–22.3 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 16.4%14.5–18.5 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.9%6.9–9 | 7.3% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 10%8.9–11.2 | 9.3% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.2%14.4–18.1 | 15.6% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 30.1%26.9–33.7 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 12.5%11.1–14.2 | 13.8% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 14.5%13.1–16.1 | 14.6% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5%4.5–5.7 | 5.9% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 5.6%5.1–6 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7.7%7–8.5 | 8.1% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.6%3.3–3.9 | 3.9% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Hayward
Is Hayward a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Hayward is healthier than 67% of U.S. towns: ≈ B+ for health, #374 of 847 in California. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Hayward?
CDC estimates 24.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 21.1% and 29.3%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Hayward?
Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, 5.0 miles in a straight line from Hayward’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
How many people in Hayward have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 11.4% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 10.1–12.8%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Hayward more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C+ to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Hayward.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.