In addition to Spartenberg, SC and Marietta GA, Hayward CA is on my list of cities I have the opportunity to relocate to.
Help.
Mostly a bedroom community beside San Francisco Bay…people there either work in SF or Silicon Valley. Parts of Hayward are nice parts not so nice…stay away from the freeway and live up in the hills if you can…or over the hills on the 680 corridor.
Alternatively if you want, live across the bay on the Peninsula because the 92 freeway and the San Mateo Bridge is a 20 minute drive to Hayward.
Either way you’ll be very close to lots of great outdoor areas for swimming biking and running.
Some local rides.
I dunno about the other two, but I would guess Hayward’s housing costs will be about 3X the other two. If you are not prepared the rent costs will shock you and the housing costs will awe you. Look at craigslist.com rental pricings. You don’t have to live in Hayward if you work in Hayward. In the Bay Area there is pretty much a continuous stream of communities along both sides of the Bay. Commute time, schools, and other opportunities for play and work will decide where you live.