What it's like to live in El Cajon
El Cajon is a mid-size city in California. The numbers below lay out what daily life there actually looks like.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. El Cajon deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, and crime rates above the national average.
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
How El Cajon compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to El Cajon
Based on El Cajon's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,712
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $74,240 a year
- 66% of El Cajon renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$136,340
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $68,170
- Homes cost 10.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 31% above US
$1,856/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,856 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $681,700. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $681,700 · 66% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 19% above US
5.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.1%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 39% above US
457 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1227/100k · El Cajon Police Department · 2025 data
Getting aroundNear US average
25 min average commute
Commutes run about average, at 24.8 minutes. Fine day to day, but it adds up over a year, and where someone lives relative to where they work starts to matter. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 43°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 36% below US
23% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 23%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
31 public schools inside the boundary
There are 31 public schools inside the boundary and 8 private schools.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Cabrillo National Monument (19 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Nothing in El Cajon's numbers stands out as a clear strength, and the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,856/mo) equals 33% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near El Cajon
All California guides →Moving to Winter Gardens →
3 mi away · pop. 22,131
Rent $1,913/mo · Income $97,973
Compare with El Cajon →Moving to Casa de Oro-Mount Helix →
3 mi away · pop. 19,765
Rent $1,973/mo · Income $125,107
Compare with El Cajon →Not sure El Cajon is the one?
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