Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 16 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Fort Collins
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $14,849/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
37% less violent crime than El Cajon
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $14,849 more per year on average
Homes cost $96k less ($497,400 vs $593,500)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$14,849
$78,977 vs $64,128/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
37% lower
272.7 vs 434.4 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$96k less
$497,400 vs $593,500
Fort Collins
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 16.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 16 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 7 and Fort Collins wins 16. 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 Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $497,400 median home), income ($64,128 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Fort Collins, CO are about 848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.