Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Pasadena, TX
🏆 El Cajon leads 12 of 22 categories
El Cajon
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
Pasadena
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High
Population
150,620 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
23% less violent crime than Pasadena
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (8.1%)
More college-educated — 23.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 64°F
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)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Pasadena
Pasadena, TX
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($171,600 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $527/mo less ($1,159 vs $1,686)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 8.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Violent Crime
23% lower
434.4 vs 566.1 per 100k
El Cajon
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
8.1% vs 8.9% unemployment
Pasadena
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Pasadena
Median Income
$570
$64,698 vs $64,128/yr
Pasadena
Median Home Value
$422k less
$171,600 vs $593,500
Pasadena
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.9°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Pasadena, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $171,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,159 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $64,698 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 73.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | PASADENA ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 63.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 92.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 57.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 150,620 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Pasadena's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pasadena is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Cajon leads 12 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 12 and Pasadena wins 10. 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 $171,600 median home), income ($64,128 vs $64,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Pasadena, TX are about 1,304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.