Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
El Cajon, CA
🏆 El Cajon leads 13 of 22 categories
Anaheim
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
El Cajon
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,410 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 28.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
El Cajon, CA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Anaheim
Homes cost $120k less ($593,500 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $272/mo less ($1,686 vs $1,958)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $24,410/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$24,410
$88,538 vs $64,128/yr
Anaheim
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
El Cajon
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
El Cajon
Violent Crime
27% lower
434.4 vs 596.2 per 100k
El Cajon
Median Home Value
$120k less
$593,500 vs $713,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | El Cajon, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $593,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $64,128 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 23.0% |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Cajon Valley Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" | 13.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 105,721 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs El Cajon's 111.5 (US average = 100).
El Cajon is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Cajon leads 13 of 22 categories. Anaheim wins 9 and El Cajon wins 13. 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 Anaheim to El Cajon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $593,500 median home), income ($88,538 vs $64,128), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and El Cajon, CA are about 86 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.