Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,721
Raleigh
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Raleigh
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 52°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Median income trails Raleigh by $14,503/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($347,000 vs $593,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $315/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,686)
Households earn $14,503 more per year on average
14% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Violent Crime
11% lower
434.4 vs 488.8 per 100k
Raleigh
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$14,503
$78,631 vs $64,128/yr
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$247k less
$347,000 vs $593,500
Raleigh
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 51.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 9 and Raleigh 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $347,000 median home), income ($64,128 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Raleigh, NC are about 2,183 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.