El Cajon, CA vs Irvine, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
El Cajon
62.5
#1848 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $64,128). El Cajon leads in walk score (61 vs 44). El Cajon leads in cost of living index (150 vs 178).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 62.5 (#1848) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 102,991 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $812,181 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $64,128 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 25.4 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 61 | 44 |
| Crime Level | 11.9 | Very Low |
| School Rating | N/A | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 150 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+16.8 | D+2.6 |
D-
62.5 Score
El Cajon, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$812,181
Population
102,991
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View El Cajon, CA →
D+
67.2 Score
Irvine, CA
Master-planned perfection in Southern California
Median Home
$1,517,431
Population
307,670
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Pacific
View Irvine, CA →