Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Henderson, NV
🏆 Henderson leads 19 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Henderson
Nevada
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$85,311 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
318,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 105°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Median income trails Henderson by $21,183/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 7.0%)
Henderson, NV
Pros
37% less violent crime than El Cajon
Homes cost $166k less ($427,900 vs $593,500)
Households earn $21,183 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.0%)
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Henderson
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Henderson
Median Income
$21,183
$85,311 vs $64,128/yr
Henderson
Violent Crime
37% lower
272.4 vs 434.4 per 100k
Henderson
Median Home Value
$166k less
$427,900 vs $593,500
Henderson
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Henderson
Summer Heat
18.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.5°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Henderson, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 103.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $427,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,641⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $85,311 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 35.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 104.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" | 6.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 318,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 42.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 65.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 20.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Henderson's 103.9 (US average = 100).
Henderson is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Henderson leads 19 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 4 and Henderson wins 19. 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 Henderson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $427,900 median home), income ($64,128 vs $85,311), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Henderson, NV are about 247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.