Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville leads 15 of 22 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
Vacaville
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Rent averages $455/mo less ($1,686 vs $2,141)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $42,636/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.4%)
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,636 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than El Cajon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 26.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $33k less ($560,400 vs $593,500)
Smaller class sizes — 21.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Vacaville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Vacaville
Median Income
$42,636
$106,764 vs $64,128/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
33% lower
293.2 vs 434.4 per 100k
Vacaville
Median Home Value
$33k less
$560,400 vs $593,500
Vacaville
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $560,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 21.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 26.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vacaville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 15 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 7 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $560,400 median home), income ($64,128 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Vacaville, CA are about 476 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.