El Cajon, California, known as "The Big Box," is a vibrant and diverse community located near San Diego and Chula Vista. With its rich history, strong local economy, and welcoming community, El Cajon offers a high quality of life for its residents. The city's blend of suburban charm and urban amenities makes living in El Cajon an attractive option for families and professionals.
Residents of El Cajon enjoy a variety of recreational activities and cultural events. The city's numerous parks, community centers, and cultural institutions provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities and enrichment. The Water Conservation Garden and the Olaf Wieghorst Museum are popular destinations that celebrate the city's cultural richness and natural beauty. The annual HauntFest on Main and the Cajon Classic Cruise are events that showcase El Cajon's vibrant community spirit.
El Cajon's strong economy is supported by a diverse range of industries, including healthcare, education, and retail. The city's strategic location near San Diego and Chula Vista provides residents with easy access to job opportunities and cultural amenities in both metropolitan areas. Major employers in the area include Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District and Cajon Valley Union School District.
El Cajon is committed to community development, with numerous initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, public services, and recreational facilities. These efforts contribute to the city's overall appeal and enhance the quality of life for its residents.
Public transportation in El Cajon is well-developed, with access to San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) buses and trolleys, facilitating easy commutes within the city and to neighboring areas. El Cajon's climate features hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, allowing for year-round outdoor activities. Overall, El Cajon offers a blend of natural beauty, economic opportunity, and community spirit, making it a desirable place to live.
Amenities
The area boasts an ample array of local amenities, such as restaurants, entertainment options, grocery stores and parks, all conveniently located within walking distance.
Commute
A high commute score suggests convenient, easy access to public transportation, with shorter-than-average work commute times to work.
Ratings
Locals express favorable opinions about the proximity of everyday local amenities, parks, public transit, neighborly atmosphere, strong sense of community and the general safety of the area.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living in this area is notably high, making it a more expensive place to live. You'll find higher expenses for everyday goods and services, housing and groceries.
El Cajon is a mid-sized city located in the state of California. The city has a population of 103,249 residents. El Cajon has a population density of 7,116 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. According to the most recent Census, 72% of El Cajon residents are White, 6% Black and 4% Asian. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of El Cajon are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 19% of the population also speak Spanish. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in El Cajon, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in El Cajon could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, cost of living, health & safety, education, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in El Cajon and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare El Cajon to California and the national average.
Using data and statistics El Cajon has received a livability score of 73/100. This score is ranked in the 85th percentile when compared to all other cities. There are nine total categories that form the livability score. El Cajon scores well for amenities (A+) and education (A+) El Cajon does not do well for the following: crime (D) and cost of living (F). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Living in El Cajon offers many benefits and offers an extensive array of local amenities. These amenities play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life in this vibrant community. From readily accessible grocery stores to charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and generously spaced parks, El Cajon provides a wide spectrum of resources for its residents. This ensures that your daily requirements are effortlessly met and creates abundant opportunities for leisure and recreation. The abundant local offerings contribute to the area's overall appeal, making it an attractive destination for those seeking convenience, variety and a fulfilling lifestyle. If you're considering a move, the wealth of local amenities continues could be a defining feature of this remarkable locale. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Taylor Guitars, Boomers El Cajon, and Art World Western Heritage Gallery.
Assuming that El Cajon meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in El Cajon. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in El Cajon are simply unattainable. The median home price for El Cajon homes is $470,800, which is 15% higher than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in El Cajon, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 8.4, which is 31.3% higher than the California average.
| Statistic | El Cajon | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 26min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 76.5% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.0% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 3.5% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.2% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 1.6% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.5% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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