Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Fresno leads 12 of 21 categories
El Cajon
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
Fresno
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (8.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 55°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 98°F
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 7% higher than Fresno
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $272k less ($321,800 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $459/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,686)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 8.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Income
$1,127
$64,128 vs $63,001/yr
El Cajon
Violent Crime
41% lower
434.4 vs 735.5 per 100k
El Cajon
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
8.1% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$272k less
$321,800 vs $593,500
Fresno
Summer Heat
11.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 55.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 48.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Fresno leads 12 of 21 categories. El Cajon wins 9 and Fresno wins 12. 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $321,800 median home), income ($64,128 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Fresno, CA are about 319 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.