Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 El Cajon leads 14 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Fall River
Households earn $11,394 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 23.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fall River
Fall River, MA
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($328,100 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $666/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,686)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Cajon by $11,394/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Income
$11,394
$64,128 vs $52,734/yr
El Cajon
Violent Crime
42% lower
434.4 vs 742.9 per 100k
El Cajon
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.1°F vs 82.5°F
Fall River
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fall River
Median Home Value
$265k less
$328,100 vs $593,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $328,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 49.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Cajon leads 14 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 14 and Fall River 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 El Cajon to Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $328,100 median home), income ($64,128 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Fall River, MA are about 2,565 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.