Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Cajon, CA
VS
Wichita Falls, TX
🏆 Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories
El Cajon
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,128 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
105,721 ✓ Larger
Wichita Falls
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,584
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
102,482
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Cajon, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,544 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 55°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,500
Higher rents — median is $1,686/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Wichita Falls
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Wichita Falls, TX
Pros
Homes cost $465k less ($128,800 vs $593,500)
Rent averages $737/mo less ($949 vs $1,686)
19% less violent crime than El Cajon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.4%)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than El Cajon
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails El Cajon by $8,544/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
El Cajon
Median Income
$8,544
$64,128 vs $55,584/yr
Wichita Falls
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 88.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Wichita Falls
Violent Crime
19% lower
350.3 vs 434.4 per 100k
Wichita Falls
Median Home Value
$465k less
$128,800 vs $593,500
Wichita Falls
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.1% unemployment
Wichita Falls
Summer Heat
11.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.2°F vs 86.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Wichita Falls, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 88.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $593,500⚠ High | $128,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,686⚠ High | $949 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,128 ✓ Higher | $55,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 14.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.5% |
| 🔒 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 | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ 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 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.0% | 24.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cajon Valley Union | WICHITA FALLS ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer | 54.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.1°F | 97.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.5" ✓ Drier | 27.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,721 ✓ Larger | 102,482 |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Cajon's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Wichita Falls's 88.9 (US average = 100).
Wichita Falls is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita Falls leads 13 of 23 categories. El Cajon wins 10 and Wichita Falls 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 Wichita Falls or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($593,500 vs $128,800 median home), income ($64,128 vs $55,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Cajon, CA and Wichita Falls, TX are about 1,065 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.