Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan leads 18 of 23 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
West Jordan
Utah
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
116,383 ✓ 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 40°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails West Jordan by $34,874/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Cost of living runs 13% higher than West Jordan
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Households earn $34,874 more per year on average
Homes cost $181k less ($412,100 vs $593,500)
32% less violent crime than El Cajon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (4.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Rent averages $197/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,686)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
West Jordan
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Median Income
$34,874
$99,002 vs $64,128/yr
West Jordan
Violent Crime
32% lower
294.2 vs 434.4 per 100k
West Jordan
Median Home Value
$181k less
$412,100 vs $593,500
West Jordan
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.1% unemployment
West Jordan
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $412,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.8:1 | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 | 116,383 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 18 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 5 and West Jordan wins 18. 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 West Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $412,100 median home), income ($64,128 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and West Jordan, UT are about 605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.