Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Killeen, TX
🏆 Killeen leads 12 of 22 categories
El Cajon
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
Killeen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,086
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Killeen
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (8.1%)
Households earn $7,042 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Killeen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Killeen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $418k less ($175,400 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $602/mo less ($1,084 vs $1,686)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Cajon by $7,042/yr
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 8.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Income
$7,042
$64,128 vs $57,086/yr
El Cajon
Violent Crime
18% lower
434.4 vs 527.6 per 100k
El Cajon
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
8.1% vs 10.9% unemployment
Killeen
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Killeen
Median Home Value
$418k less
$175,400 vs $593,500
Killeen
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.7°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Killeen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 91.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $175,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,084 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $57,086 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% ✓ Higher | 22.1% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 91.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | KILLEEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 95.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 36.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 153,708 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 46.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 29.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 7.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Killeen's 91.8 (US average = 100).
Killeen is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Killeen leads 12 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 10 and Killeen 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 Killeen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $175,400 median home), income ($64,128 vs $57,086), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Killeen, TX are about 1,132 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.