Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 19 of 22 categories
El Cajon
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Peoria
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 105°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Median income trails Peoria by $22,631/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Peoria
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($383,600 vs $593,500)
41% less violent crime than El Cajon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.9%)
Households earn $22,631 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$22,631
$86,759 vs $64,128/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
41% lower
254.7 vs 434.4 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$210k less
$383,600 vs $593,500
Peoria
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.9% vs 8.1% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
18.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 19 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 3 and Peoria wins 19. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $383,600 median home), income ($64,128 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Peoria, AZ are about 277 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.