Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Norfolk, VA
🏆 Norfolk leads 12 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
Norfolk
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
7% less violent crime than Norfolk
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 50°F
Households earn $3,130 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Norfolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($254,200 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $498/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,686)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.7%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
More college-educated — 32.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails El Cajon by $3,130/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Income
$3,130
$64,128 vs $60,998/yr
El Cajon
Violent Crime
7% lower
434.4 vs 469.5 per 100k
Norfolk
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$339k less
$254,200 vs $593,500
Norfolk
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Norfolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $254,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,188 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $60,998 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 7.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 89.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Norfolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 50.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 45.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 236,973 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 32.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 44.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Norfolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norfolk leads 12 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 11 and Norfolk wins 12. 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 Norfolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $254,200 median home), income ($64,128 vs $60,998), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Norfolk, VA are about 2,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.