Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
El Cajon, CA
🏆 El Cajon leads 14 of 22 categories
Compton
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
El Cajon
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($489,400 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $222/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,686)
Households earn $5,600 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
Cons
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (3145.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.8 min average each way
El Cajon, CA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Compton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
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 Compton by $5,600/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$5,600
$69,728 vs $64,128/yr
Compton
Median Home Value
$104k less
$489,400 vs $593,500
El Cajon
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
El Cajon
Violent Crime
66% lower
434.4 vs 1271.7 per 100k
El Cajon
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.1°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, 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 | $489,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,686⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $64,128 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 23.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 23.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | Cajon Valley Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 86.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 13.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 105,721 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton'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 14 of 22 categories. Compton wins 8 and El Cajon wins 14. 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 Compton to El Cajon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $593,500 median home), income ($69,728 vs $64,128), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and El Cajon, CA are about 105 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.