Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
El Cajon, CA
🏆 Allen leads 16 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
El Cajon
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $57,131 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than El Cajon
Homes cost $203k less ($390,200 vs $593,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $57,131/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$57,131
$121,259 vs $64,128/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
76% lower
106.4 vs 434.4 per 100k
Allen
Median Home Value
$203k less
$390,200 vs $593,500
Allen
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.1% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | El Cajon, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $64,128 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 71 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 23.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Cajon Valley Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 13.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 105,721 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs El Cajon's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Allen is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 16 of 23 categories. Allen wins 16 and El Cajon wins 7. 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 Allen to El Cajon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $593,500 median home), income ($121,259 vs $64,128), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and El Cajon, CA are about 1,175 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.