Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 16 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
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 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Homes cost $286k less ($307,700 vs $593,500)
44% less violent crime than El Cajon
Rent averages $511/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,686)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$2,355
$66,483 vs $64,128/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
44% lower
242.1 vs 434.4 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$286k less
$307,700 vs $593,500
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 25.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 16 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 7 and Spokane Valley wins 16. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $307,700 median home), income ($64,128 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,027 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.