Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Mission Viejo, CA
🏆 Mission Viejo leads 13 of 22 categories
El Cajon
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721 ✓ Larger
Mission Viejo
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
26 ✓ Safer
Population
93,233
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Rent averages $936/mo less ($1,686 vs $2,622)
Homes cost $290k less ($593,500 vs $883,600)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Mission Viejo
Cons
Median income trails Mission Viejo by $72,442/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.4%)
Mission Viejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $72,442 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than El Cajon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (99.2 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 86°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $883,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than El Cajon
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
El Cajon
Median Home Value
$290k less
$593,500 vs $883,600
El Cajon
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.1°F vs 79.5°F
Mission Viejo
Median Income
$72,442
$136,570 vs $64,128/yr
Mission Viejo
Violent Crime
77% lower
99.2 vs 434.4 per 100k
Mission Viejo
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Mission Viejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $883,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $136,570 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 26 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 22.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Saddleback Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 68.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F ✓ Warmer | 79.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 15.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 ✓ Larger | 93,233 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 22.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Mission Viejo's 115.5 (US average = 100).
El Cajon is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mission Viejo leads 13 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 9 and Mission Viejo wins 13. 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 Mission Viejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $883,600 median home), income ($64,128 vs $136,570), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Mission Viejo, CA are about 69 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.