Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Hampton, VA
🏆 Hampton leads 17 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Hampton
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,430 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
137,217 ✓ 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 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Hampton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Hampton, VA
Pros
Homes cost $374k less ($219,800 vs $593,500)
43% less violent crime than El Cajon
Rent averages $431/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,686)
Violent crime is well below the national average (247.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.5%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Property crime (2882.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hampton
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Hampton
Violent Crime
43% lower
247.6 vs 434.4 per 100k
Hampton
Median Home Value
$374k less
$219,800 vs $593,500
Hampton
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Hampton, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $219,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,255 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $64,430 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 94 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 27.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 92.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Hampton City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 49.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 47.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 137,217 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 55.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Hampton's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Hampton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hampton leads 17 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 6 and Hampton wins 17. 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 Hampton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $219,800 median home), income ($64,128 vs $64,430), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Hampton, VA are about 2,305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.