El Cajon vs Renton: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of El Cajon, CA and Renton, WA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | El Cajon, CA | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 105,721 | 105,355 |
| Median household income | $64,128 | $92,292 |
| Median home value | $593,500 | $576,800 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,686 | $1,864 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing El Cajon, CA and Renton, WA comes down to what you value most. Renton has the lower median home value, and El Cajon has the lower median rent.
Renton has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in El Cajon or Renton?
- By median home value, Renton is the cheaper of the two ($576,800 vs $593,500). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, El Cajon or Renton?
- Median household income is $64,128 in El Cajon versus $92,292 in Renton, per the US Census Bureau.