Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 17 of 22 categories
El Cajon
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Scottsdale
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Homes cost $58k less ($593,500 vs $651,800)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 99°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 64°F
Rent averages $82/mo less ($1,686 vs $1,768)
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $40,069/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 3.5%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Scottsdale
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $40,069 more per year on average
65% less violent crime than El Cajon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.6 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Home Value
$58k less
$593,500 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$40,069
$104,197 vs $64,128/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
65% lower
152.5 vs 434.4 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
3.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 63.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 17 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 5 and Scottsdale wins 17. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $651,800 median home), income ($64,128 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Scottsdale, AZ are about 301 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.