Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, VA
VS
El Cajon, CA
🏆 Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$137,387 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
235,845 ✓ Larger
El Cajon
California
10
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.
Arlington, VA
Pros
Households earn $73,259 more per year on average
More college-educated — 76.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (2.8%)
41% less violent crime than El Cajon
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.4 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $833,300
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($593,500 vs $833,300)
Rent averages $541/mo less ($1,686 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $73,259/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Arlington
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$73,259
$137,387 vs $64,128/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
41% lower
254.4 vs 434.4 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
2.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 86.1°F
El Cajon
Median Home Value
$240k less
$593,500 vs $833,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, 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 | $833,300⚠ High | $593,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,227⚠ High | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $137,387 ✓ Higher | $64,128 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 27.0% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.8% ✓ Higher | 23.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Arlington County 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 | 47.2" | 13.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 235,845 ✓ Larger | 105,721 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs El Cajon's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 13 and El Cajon wins 10. 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 ($833,300 vs $593,500 median home), income ($137,387 vs $64,128), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, VA and El Cajon, CA are about 2,253 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.