Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
El Cajon, CA
🏆 Edinburg leads 15 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
El Cajon
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $434k less ($159,600 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $766/mo less ($920 vs $1,686)
38% less violent crime than El Cajon
26% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (7.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails El Cajon by $9,989/yr
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,989 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Edinburg
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
38% lower
269.6 vs 434.4 per 100k
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$434k less
$159,600 vs $593,500
Edinburg
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Edinburg
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 86.1°F
El Cajon
Median Income
$9,989
$64,128 vs $54,139/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | El Cajon, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $593,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $1,686⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $64,128 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (66) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 23.0% |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 84.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Cajon Valley Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 13.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 105,721 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs El Cajon's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 15 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 15 and El Cajon wins 8. 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 Edinburg to El Cajon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $593,500 median home), income ($54,139 vs $64,128), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and El Cajon, CA are about 1,213 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.