Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 12 of 22 categories
El Cajon
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
Pasadena
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Homes cost $388k less ($593,500 vs $981,600)
10% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $414/mo less ($1,686 vs $2,100)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $33,690/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,690 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
El Cajon
Violent Crime
10% lower
434.4 vs 480.4 per 100k
El Cajon
Median Home Value
$388k less
$593,500 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$33,690
$97,818 vs $64,128/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
Pasadena
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.1°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 68.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 42.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
El Cajon is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 12 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 10 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $981,600 median home), income ($64,128 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.