Living in El Cajon, CA
Suburb in California
El Cajon is a suburb in California, home to about 105,000 people, with 2.8 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.
Is El Cajon a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Strong healthcare: 13 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
- Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
- Easy flying: SAN is 14 mi away
- Lots of culture: museums, zoos and attractions nearby
👎 Cons
- Pricey housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $783k, and rent is $4,000 a month
- Few dog parks: 11 within 9 mi
- Higher taxes: about $3,279 state income tax per resident, 0.69% property tax
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how El Cajon ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in El Cajon: common questions
What is the cost of living in El Cajon?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $783k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $4,000 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are above the US average (index 112, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in El Cajon?
California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.69% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is El Cajon safe?
Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.4× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in El Cajon?
El Cajon is warm all year: winter days average around 69°F and summer days around 85°F.
Does El Cajon get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and earthquakes: 11 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.21 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to El Cajon?
The nearest major airport is SAN, about 14 mi away.
How El Cajon scores
Each bar compares El Cajon with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is El Cajon right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.