Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 14 of 22 categories
El Cajon
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
Peoria
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Peoria
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 34°F
Households earn $6,060 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Peoria
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $447k less ($146,700 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $769/mo less ($917 vs $1,686)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails El Cajon by $6,060/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Income
$6,060
$64,128 vs $58,068/yr
El Cajon
Violent Crime
68% lower
434.4 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Peoria
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$447k less
$146,700 vs $593,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 113,054 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 14 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 8 and Peoria wins 14. 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 $146,700 median home), income ($64,128 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Peoria, IL are about 1,602 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.