Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
El Cajon, CA
🏆 El Cajon leads 14 of 22 categories
Downey
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,108 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Cons
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Property crime (2650.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
El Cajon, CA
Pros
6% less violent crime than Downey
Homes cost $86k less ($593,500 vs $679,000)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,686 vs $1,814)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $20,108/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Median Income
$20,108
$84,236 vs $64,128/yr
Downey
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.6% 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
6% lower
434.4 vs 460.5 per 100k
El Cajon
Median Home Value
$86k less
$593,500 vs $679,000
El Cajon
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.1°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, 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 | $679,000⚠ High | $593,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 ✓ Higher | $64,128 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% ✓ Higher | 23.0% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Cajon Valley Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 86.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 13.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 105,721 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey'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. Downey 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 Downey to El Cajon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $593,500 median home), income ($84,236 vs $64,128), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and El Cajon, CA are about 104 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.