Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Gresham, OR
🏆 Gresham leads 15 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Gresham
Oregon
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,525 ✓ 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 47°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)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.8%)
Gresham, OR
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($411,700 vs $593,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $234/mo less ($1,452 vs $1,686)
Households earn $5,309 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.1°F vs 81.6°F
Gresham
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Gresham
Median Income
$5,309
$69,437 vs $64,128/yr
Gresham
Violent Crime
6% lower
410.2 vs 434.4 per 100k
Gresham
Median Home Value
$182k less
$411,700 vs $593,500
Gresham
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Gresham, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $411,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,452⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $69,437 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 23.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 87.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 46.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 113,525 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Gresham's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Gresham is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gresham leads 15 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 8 and Gresham wins 15. 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 Gresham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $411,700 median home), income ($64,128 vs $69,437), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Gresham, OR are about 925 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.