Cost of Living in El Cajon, California
El Cajon has a population of about 104,449. The median household income is $67,511, median gross rent is $1,856/month, and the median home value is $681,700. These figures come from 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates, the latest full-coverage Census baseline for U.S. cities.
How current is this? Census city data is released with a lag because it is survey-based and designed for consistent coverage across small and large places. Use it as an official affordability baseline; current apartment listings and mortgage rates may differ.
Is El Cajon expensive to live in?
Compared with the national median in this dataset, rent in El Cajon is 12% above the national median and home values are 82% above the national median. Household income here is 20% below the national median. Monthly rent represents roughly 33% of the median annual household income, a rough affordability signal for renters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in El Cajon?
The median gross rent in El Cajon, California is $1,856 per month in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
What is the median home price in El Cajon?
The median owner-occupied home value in El Cajon is $681,700 in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
How much do people earn in El Cajon?
The median household income in El Cajon is $67,511 per year in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Local database last refreshed 2026-07-11.