Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 El Cajon leads 17 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
Newark
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,668 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (8.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($312,300 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $413/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,686)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails El Cajon by $17,668/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 8.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
El Cajon
Median Income
$17,668
$64,128 vs $46,460/yr
El Cajon
Violent Crime
25% lower
434.4 vs 581.2 per 100k
El Cajon
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
8.1% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Median Home Value
$281k less
$312,300 vs $593,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
El Cajon is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Cajon leads 17 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 17 and Newark wins 6. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $312,300 median home), income ($64,128 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Newark, NJ are about 2,406 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.