My family moved here when I was a kid. You can expect to pay around $1,790 for rent here. Poverty rate is 16.1%, which is higher than I expected. Median household income is $66,478, which feels about average for the area. With a population of 105K, El Cajon is a mid-size city. The weather takes some getting used to. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. What neighborhoods would you suggest? Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Honestly, I think it's a great place if you know where to look. The city has invested a lot in new development. The weather takes some getting used to. It's a very car-dependent city, for better or worse. The suburbs are where most families end up. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. The suburbs are where most families end up.
36 upvotes
15 Replies
Violet Castillo
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Raleigh and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Greenfield. It's improving for what you get.
Jobs: The market is manageable right now, especially in marketing. If you're in education you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 8 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: excellent. Tons of options if you like Indian.
Would recommend to anyone considering it..
32 upvotes
Hannah Lopez
The food scene here is challenging. Tons of great craft beer places. I have mixed feelings honestly.
28 upvotes
Eliana
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in North for 12 years. Moved from Chicago for my partner's job. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth up a bit than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. If you look outside the main areas you can find deals.
**Employment:**
healthcare is strong here. healthcare is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is solid - we have hiking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. North schools are excellent. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Not very walkable outside downtown. Dating scene is rough. And food scene can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For remote workers, I'd say this is a 5/10. Give it a chance - it might surprise you.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
28 upvotes
Julia Torres
I've been living here for 7 years and I'd say I have mixed feelings honestly. The safety is solid compared to other places I've lived. Overall It's not for everyone but it works for us..
27 upvotes
oakland_gianna
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value nightlife, you'll love it. The weather is genuinely pretty good and I've found there are trade-offs but the good outweighs the bad. My neighborhood (Midtown) is established and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Portland, be prepared for the culture shock. nightlife is completely different here. And Dating scene is rough.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
25 upvotes
Julia Ruiz
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem excellent.
I've been here 14 years and it's improved dramatically in recent years. The thing nobody mentions is community vibe. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into surfing, this place is better than expected.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Springfield side vs the Uptown side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Hope this helps!.
25 upvotes
Easton Cook
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 15 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is walkability. It's wild and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the cost of living is legit. And if you're into photography, this place is surprisingly good.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Uptown side vs the Springfield side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Good luck with whatever you decide..
24 upvotes
eva_mind
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in Old Town for 11 years. Moved from Boston for cost of living. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is decent. We bought in 2021 at k and it's now worth about the same than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 1-bed in a safe area. Lots of new construction which should help.
**Employment:**
engineering is strong here. education is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are developing for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
it's not perfect but it works for me. The outdoor scene is pretty good - we have rivers within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. Old Town schools are tough. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Traffic during rush hour is rough. Chain restaurants dominate. And weather can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 5/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
22 upvotes
Alice J.
good to know, thanks
19 upvotes
Caleb Cooper
+1
19 upvotes
David
this is the way
18 upvotes
Jordan Thompson
this is the way
7 upvotes
Caleb Foster
This.
4 upvotes
charlotte_avery
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value healthcare, you'll love it. The cost of living is genuinely challenging and I've found it's been a really good experience overall. My neighborhood (The Heights) is competitive and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. weather is completely different here. And Winters are long and cold.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
0 upvotes
Landon Phillips
My experience has been mostly positive. the quality of life is solid. The only thing I'd watch out for is food scene. Other than that, No regrets on my end..
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