Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Richardson
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Median income trails Richardson by $30,234/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.0%)
Richardson, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than El Cajon
Homes cost $214k less ($379,800 vs $593,500)
Households earn $30,234 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Richardson
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$30,234
$94,362 vs $64,128/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
66% lower
146.7 vs 434.4 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$214k less
$379,800 vs $593,500
Richardson
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.1% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 51.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 8 and Richardson wins 15. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $379,800 median home), income ($64,128 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Richardson, TX are about 1,173 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.