Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
El Cajon, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
El Cajon
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Homes cost $342k less ($251,300 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $389/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,686)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Households earn $7,608 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
El Cajon, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Arlington
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Median income trails Arlington by $7,608/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$7,608
$71,736 vs $64,128/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$342k less
$251,300 vs $593,500
Arlington
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.1% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 86.1°F
El Cajon
Violent Crime
10% lower
434.4 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, 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 | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $593,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,686⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $64,128 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 23.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Cajon Valley Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 13.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 105,721 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs El Cajon's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 23 categories. Arlington 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 Arlington to El Cajon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $593,500 median home), income ($71,736 vs $64,128), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and El Cajon, CA are about 1,151 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.