Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
El Cajon, CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
El Cajon
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $49,051 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than El Cajon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Longer commutes — 30.1 min average each way
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Rent averages $297/mo less ($1,686 vs $1,983)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Homes cost $62k less ($593,500 vs $655,700)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $49,051/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Alexandria
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$49,051
$113,179 vs $64,128/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
50% lower
219.1 vs 434.4 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 86.1°F
El Cajon
Median Home Value
$62k less
$593,500 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | El Cajon, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $593,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $64,128 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 23.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Cajon Valley Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 13.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 105,721 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs El Cajon's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 14 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 14 and El Cajon wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to El Cajon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $593,500 median home), income ($113,179 vs $64,128), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and El Cajon, CA are about 2,254 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.