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Living in
El Cajon.
About
Life in El Cajon
Sitting about 17 miles inland from San Diego, El Cajon is a genuinely diverse, family-oriented community where you're more likely to hear Arabic, Spanish, and Chaldean spoken than English—and that's honestly one of its defining strengths. With a median household income around $67,511 and a median home value hovering near $682,000, the cost of living is noticeably more affordable than coastal San Diego while still reflecting Southern California realities; rent runs around $1,856 monthly if you're not ready to buy. What actually keeps people here is the strong sense of community—El Cajon's population of about 105,000 includes one of the largest Iraqi and Chaldean Catholic communities in the country, creating a rich fabric of family-owned restaurants, markets, and cultural institutions that make the city feel lived-in rather than transient.
El Cajon at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
20.5%
Foreign-Born
29.3%
Broadband Internet
93.6%
of households
Population Growth
-4.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics29.3% foreign-born, most often from Iraq
Who lives in El Cajon: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In El Cajon, the largest foreign-born group is from Iraq (41.4%), and 19.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.6%
of residents
65 and Older
14.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.8%
of households
Married Couples
46.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.97
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 9% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in El Cajon
In El Cajon, rent runs 9% below the CA average, and home values are 7% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
66.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
38.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,533
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
41.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $812,660 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts below CA average
Unemployment in El Cajon and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in El Cajon is 0.4 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What El Cajon Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro area
Commute24.8 min avg
How El Cajon residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In El Cajon, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 65% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Major hub12.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 39% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in El Cajon runs 39% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
457.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,227.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
El Cajon Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Diego County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Diego County, which includes El Cajon, the most common type is high wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Heavy Rain | $110,000 |
| 2024 | 56 | High Wind | $30.9M |
| 2023 | 67 | High Wind | $13,000 |
| 2022 | 92 | High Wind | $11,000 |
| 2021 | 93 | High Wind | $4.2M |
| 2020 | 56 | High Wind | $4.5M |
| 2019 | 69 | High Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 42 | High Wind | $680,100 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
213 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Diego County, county-wide
El Cajon is about 3% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality67 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Diego County, which includes El Cajon, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
67
Good Days
64
per year
Moderate Days
268
per year
Unhealthy Days
7
per year
San Diego County, county-wide
El Cajon is about 3% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
El Cajon has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
74°/52°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
81°/55°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
69°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
13.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
57
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
3
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
49
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 43°F | 2.32" |
| Feb | 69°F | 44°F | 2.61" |
| Mar | 71°F | 48°F | 1.92" |
| Apr | 75°F | 51°F | 0.75" |
| May | 76°F | 56°F | 0.30" |
| Jun | 81°F | 59°F | 0.06" |
| Jul | 86°F | 63°F | 0.16" |
| Aug | 89°F | 65°F | 0.02" |
| Sep | 87°F | 62°F | 0.11" |
| Oct | 81°F | 56°F | 0.54" |
| Nov | 75°F | 47°F | 1.01" |
| Dec | 69°F | 42°F | 1.83" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in El Cajon
Uninsured
6.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside El Cajon's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Grossmont Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.2 mi away · La Mesa
Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health Syste
Psychiatric · 5.2 mi away · La Mesa
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · San Diego
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education23.0% college degree rate
Schools and degree attainment in El Cajon
Public Schools
31
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
23.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in El Cajon
Public · 2-year · 12,163 students · in-state tuition $1,332 · 28% graduate · median earnings $45,404 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 35,377 students · in-state tuition $9,180 · 83% graduate · median earnings $73,494 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 18,614 students · in-state tuition $1,356 · 31% graduate · median earnings $47,535 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 16,098 students · in-state tuition $1,154 · 23% graduate · median earnings $50,947 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 11,271 students · in-state tuition $1,154 · 22% graduate · median earnings $53,737 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,794 students · in-state tuition $13,284 · 46% graduate · median earnings $73,988 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,441 students · in-state tuition $1,154 · 21% graduate · median earnings $44,127 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Cabrillo National Monument, 19 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for El Cajon
El Cajon has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cabrillo National Monument (19 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
19 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
76 mi awayJoshua Tree National Park
National Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in El Cajon
El Cajon Library
201 E. Douglas Ave, El Cajon
Fletcher Hills Library
576 Garfield Ave., El Cajon
Cities Near El Cajon
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to El Cajon?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
El Cajon FAQ
Is El Cajon, California affordable?⌄
El Cajon's median rent is $1,856/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $67,511/year. Median home value is $681,700.
Is El Cajon, California safe?⌄
El Cajon's violent crime rate was 457 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1227 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in El Cajon, California?⌄
El Cajon has an unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in El Cajon, California?⌄
The cost of living in El Cajon is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,856/month and median household income is $67,511/year. The median home value is $681,700. About 66% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in El Cajon, California?⌄
The average commute in El Cajon is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from