Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
32% less violent crime than Rialto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (8.1%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 23.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Median income trails Rialto by $16,622/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Rialto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($418,300 vs $593,500)
Households earn $16,622 more per year on average
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,553 vs $1,686)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (9.3% vs 8.1%)
Longer commutes — 33.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Violent Crime
32% lower
434.4 vs 641.7 per 100k
El Cajon
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
8.1% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Rialto
Median Income
$16,622
$80,750 vs $64,128/yr
Rialto
Median Home Value
$175k less
$418,300 vs $593,500
Rialto
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $418,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,553⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 23.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rialto is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Cajon leads 12 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 12 and Rialto 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $418,300 median home), income ($64,128 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Rialto, CA are about 94 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.