Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 22 categories
El Cajon
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721
Waco
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,707 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Waco
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $419k less ($174,100 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $648/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,686)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.5%)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Median income trails El Cajon by $16,707/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Income
$16,707
$64,128 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$419k less
$174,100 vs $593,500
Waco
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.1% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 101⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 47.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 22 categories. El Cajon wins 9 and Waco wins 13. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($64,128 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Waco, TX are about 1,158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.