Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Hemet, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
El Cajon
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721 ✓ Larger
Hemet
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
89,651
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,227 more per year on average
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (8.1%)
More college-educated — 23.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°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 4% higher than Hemet
Hemet, CA
Pros
Homes cost $316k less ($277,200 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $329/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,686)
Smaller class sizes — 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Median income trails El Cajon by $14,227/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 8.1%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Income
$14,227
$64,128 vs $49,901/yr
El Cajon
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
8.1% vs 9.5% unemployment
Hemet
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Hemet
Median Home Value
$316k less
$277,200 vs $593,500
Hemet
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Hemet, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $277,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $49,901 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 36.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C (78) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Hemet Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 ✓ Larger | 89,651 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 61.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 22.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Hemet's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hemet is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. El Cajon wins 11 and Hemet wins 11. 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 Hemet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $277,200 median home), income ($64,128 vs $49,901), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Hemet, CA are about 64 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.