Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 El Cajon leads 12 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
New Haven
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
19% less violent crime than New Haven
Households earn $9,823 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than New Haven
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($236,500 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,686)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Cajon by $9,823/yr
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Income
$9,823
$64,128 vs $54,305/yr
El Cajon
Violent Crime
19% lower
434.4 vs 534.8 per 100k
El Cajon
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 86.1°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Home Value
$357k less
$236,500 vs $593,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 7.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 85.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 135,736 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Cajon leads 12 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 12 and New Haven wins 11. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $236,500 median home), income ($64,128 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and New Haven, CT are about 2,470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.