Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit 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 ✓ Larger
Lee's Summit
Missouri
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728
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 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $39,319/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Homes cost $302k less ($291,400 vs $593,500)
Households earn $39,319 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than El Cajon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Rent averages $391/mo less ($1,295 vs $1,686)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lee's Summit
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$39,319
$103,447 vs $64,128/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
66% lower
149.4 vs 434.4 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Median Home Value
$302k less
$291,400 vs $593,500
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $291,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,295 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 ✓ Larger | 101,728 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lee's Summit is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 17 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 6 and Lee's Summit 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 Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $291,400 median home), income ($64,128 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Lee's Summit, MO are about 1,329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.