At a Glance
Median Income
$66,478
$29,968 per capita
Home Value
$632,800
Zillow: $817,309
Median Rent
$1,790/mo
41.0% of income on rent
Violent Crime
435/100K
1,537/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
22.2%
84.4% high school+
Unemployment
9.2%
16.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
30.1%
15.4% smoking rate
How El Cajon Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows El Cajon's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is El Cajon a Good Place to Live?
D
1.9 / 5.0 - Poor
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
El Cajon residents earn a median household income of $66,478 , which is 12% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $29,968. The unemployment rate stands at 9.2% (156% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 16.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 133,031 business establishments, including 8,243 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in El Cajon is $632,800 , 124% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $817,309. Median rent is $1,790/month, with 41.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1973.
Safety & Crime
El Cajon reports 435 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 15% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,537/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
22.2% of adults in El Cajon hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(34% below the national average).
84.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
El Cajon has an average annual temperature of 65°F (18°C).
Winters average 56°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 11.6 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 71.
Data Overview
People
Population104,909
Median Age35.5 yrs
Density7,230/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born28.7%
Veterans6.4%
Economy
C+
Median Income$66,478
Per Capita$29,968
Unemployment9.2%
Poverty16.1%
County GDP$331,868M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,593
Housing
F
Home Value$632,800
Rent$1,790
Ownership41.1%
Zillow$817,309
Housing Units35,786
Rent Burden41.0%
Crime
F
Violent435/100K
Property1,537/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault299/100K
Burglary159/100K
Health
Obesity30.1%
Diabetes11.1%
Smoking15.4%
Premature Death5,727/100K
Climate
Avg Temp65°F
Rain11.6 in/yr
AQI71 (Moderate)
Elevation433 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+22.2%
High School+84.4%
Graduate+7.0%
School Score5.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 40% / D 57%
Commute25 min
Broadband93.3%
Internet Speed138 Mbps
EV Stations79
Libraries88
Did You Know?
The median home in El Cajon was built in 1973.
The nearest airport is San Diego International (14 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.460 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very High" by FEMA.
14.9% of the population has a disability.
28.7% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 138 Mbps.
There are 8,243 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 272 fatal vehicle crashes.
455 declared natural disasters on record.