Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Laredo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ 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 100°F
Households earn $3,200 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Laredo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $429k less ($164,400 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $718/mo less ($968 vs $1,686)
16% less violent crime than El Cajon
24% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Median income trails El Cajon by $3,200/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Income
$3,200
$64,128 vs $60,928/yr
Laredo
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
16% lower
365.8 vs 434.4 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$429k less
$164,400 vs $593,500
Laredo
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C (82) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 68.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 9 and Laredo wins 14. 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 Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($64,128 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Laredo, TX are about 1,103 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.