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Economy, jobs and prices in El Cajon, California: official figures

The median household income in El Cajon was $67,511 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 255th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.

Median household income
$67,511
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
9.6%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
24.8 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,856
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$681,700
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
41.5%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
93.6%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in El Cajon?

Income per resident (per capita income) in El Cajon averaged $31,254 a year in 2020-2024, 124th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in El Cajon?

El Cajon's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.455 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 346th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in El Cajon, California?

9.6% of the civilian labor force in El Cajon was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (4,666 people), 25th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in El Cajon are working?

61.1% of El Cajon's 80,477 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 140th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in El Cajon have jobs?

44,063 residents of El Cajon held civilian jobs, 54.8% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 479 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in El Cajon?

The largest industry group for working residents of El Cajon was education, health care and social assistance (22.6% of employed residents), followed by retail trade (13.7%) and professional, scientific, management and administrative services (11.5%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in El Cajon work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 8.3% of working residents of El Cajon, 363rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 11.5% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in El Cajon, California?

Commuters in El Cajon took 24.8 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 396th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 5.5% travelled an hour or more and 21.9% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in El Cajon get to work?

11.4% of workers living in El Cajon worked from home in 2020-2024, 279th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 72.6% drove to work alone, 9.4% carpooled, 2.3% used public transport and 2.3% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in El Cajon, California?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in El Cajon was $1,856 a month in 2020-2024, 239th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in El Cajon?

Owner-occupied homes in El Cajon had a median value of $681,700 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 134th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in El Cajon?

The median home value in El Cajon was 10.1 times the median household income, 21st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in El Cajon, California own their home?

41.5% of the 33,890 occupied homes in El Cajon were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 19,824 were rented, 70th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; California: 55.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in El Cajon have broadband?

93.6% of households in El Cajon had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 325th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; California: 93.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in El Cajon have no internet?

4.7% of households in El Cajon (1,578) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 397th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 12.0% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How El Cajon compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 569 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
566Vineland$67,860
567Norman$67,704
568West Allis$67,611
569El Cajon$67,511
570Tyler$67,486
571San Bernardino$67,415
572Eau Claire$67,395
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 700 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
697Abilene$31,321
698Rochester$31,314
699Rockford$31,263
700El Cajon$31,254
701New Britain$31,171
702Lancaster$31,159
703Las Cruces$31,140
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 346 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
343Pharr0.455
344Alhambra0.455
345Wellington0.455
346El Cajon0.455
347Harrisonburg0.454
348La Crosse0.454
349Diamond Bar0.454
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 25 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
22Porterville10.1%
23Lynwood9.8%
24Killeen9.7%
25El Cajon9.6%
26Huntington Park9.5%
27Hanford9.5%
28Union City9.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 684 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
681Watsonville61.2%
682Battle Creek61.2%
683Sterling Heights61.2%
684El Cajon61.1%
685Deerfield Beach61.1%
686Hammond61.1%
687Manteca61.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 396 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
393Greenwood24.8
394Euless24.8
395Tampa24.8
396El Cajon24.8
397Detroit24.8
398Barnstable Town24.8
399Nashville24.7
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 545 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
542Bartlett11.4%
543Broken Arrow11.4%
544Lincoln11.4%
545El Cajon11.4%
546Bristol11.4%
547Bradenton11.4%
548Newark11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 229 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
226Glendale2.3%
227Flagstaff2.3%
228Palatine2.3%
229El Cajon2.3%
230Kalamazoo2.3%
231Danbury2.3%
232Erie2.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 461 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
458Hialeah8.4%
459Commerce City8.3%
460Blue Springs8.3%
461El Cajon8.3%
462Shawnee8.3%
463San Buenaventura (Ventura)8.3%
464Fort Pierce8.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 445 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
442Canton22.6%
443Victoria22.6%
444Diamond Bar22.6%
445El Cajon22.6%
446Temecula22.6%
447Coon Rapids22.6%
448Chino22.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 239 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
236Dunwoody$1,859
237Cape Coral$1,858
238Richardson$1,857
239El Cajon$1,856
240Fort Lauderdale$1,854
241Danbury$1,846
242Cedar Park$1,846
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 134 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
131Watsonville$686,000
132Chino$683,400
133Rockville$682,300
134El Cajon$681,700
135Temecula$679,700
136Renton$672,600
137Richmond$668,200
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 20 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
17Pasadena10.4x
18Encinitas10.2x
19Mountain View10.1x
20El Cajon10.1x
21Westminster10.0x
22Costa Mesa10.0x
23San Clemente10.0x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 754 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
751Valdosta41.7%
752Syracuse41.6%
753Washington41.5%
754El Cajon41.5%
755Providence41.4%
756Malden41.3%
757Long Beach41.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 325 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
322Hawthorne93.6%
323Lake Elsinore93.6%
324Tampa93.6%
325El Cajon93.6%
326Sandy93.6%
327Aurora93.6%
328Conway93.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

El Cajon ranks 427 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
424St. Cloud4.7%
425Cape Coral4.7%
426Pasadena4.7%
427El Cajon4.7%
428Albany4.7%
429Rialto4.7%
430Tacoma4.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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