Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Midland, TX
🏆 Midland leads 16 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Midland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ 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 95°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Median income trails Midland by $26,320/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Midland
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($280,700 vs $593,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Households earn $26,320 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than El Cajon
Rent averages $286/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,686)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$26,320
$90,448 vs $64,128/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
16% lower
364.9 vs 434.4 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$313k less
$280,700 vs $593,500
Midland
Unemployment
4.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Midland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $280,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $90,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 5.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 20.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 84.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | MIDLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 60.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 132,490 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 31.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 63.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Midland's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 16 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 7 and Midland wins 16. 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 Midland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $280,700 median home), income ($64,128 vs $90,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Midland, TX are about 867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.