El Cajon

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El Cajon, CA

Area Guide

San Diego suburb features easy access to big-city amenities

Shopping Commuter Mountains Diverse Entertainment Community

Located 17 miles east of downtown San Diego, El Cajon combines suburban comfort with metropolitan convenience. This welcoming city offers various housing options, from apartment communities to single-family homes, with current rental rates averaging $1,725 for one-bedroom units and $2,057 for two bedrooms. Fletcher Hills and Rancho San Diego feature scenic views and convenient access to Parkway Plaza shopping center. The Water Conservation Garden and Butterfly Garden at Cuyamaca College provide peaceful outdoor spaces for residents to explore.

El Cajon's community spirit shines through its local businesses and cultural celebrations. The city is home to Taylor Guitars, a globally recognized manufacturer of premium acoustic and electric guitars. Community events like America on Main Street and the historic Mother Goose Parade, a beloved tradition since 1946, bring residents together each year. The area serves educational needs through Grossmont College and Cuyamaca College. Recent rent trends indicate stability in the market, with increases ranging from 0.9% to 2.6% across different unit sizes, offering more affordable options compared to coastal San Diego areas.

Explore the City

The Downtown Café is a popular destination for residents

Catch live performances at the Magnolia, El Cajon’s performing arts center

A sign welcomes visitors to Downtown El Cajon

Residents quickly commute to San Diego via the El Cajon Transit Center

Rent Trends

As of November 2025, the average apartment rent in El Cajon, CA is $1,443 for a studio, $1,703 for one bedroom, $2,043 for two bedrooms, and $2,555 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in El Cajon has decreased by -0.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,703/month
621 Sq Ft
House
$4,186/month
1,424 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,710/month
978 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,812/month
1,157 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in El Cajon, CA

Transportation

63

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

32

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

46

Somewhat Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

You might be able to find places to ride your bike in this area, but you’ll most likely want your car for most errands.

Schools

Fuerte Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

675 Students

Fletcher Hills Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

605 Students

Pepper Drive Elementary

Public

Grades K-8

712 Students

Vista Grande Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

615 Students

Rancho San Diego Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

542 Students

Hillsdale Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

1,500 Students

Pepper Drive Elementary

Public

Grades K-8

712 Students

Los Coches Creek Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

538 Students

Dehesa School

Public

Grades K-8

84 Students

Cajon Valley Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

967 Students

Valhalla High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,911 Students

Granite Hills High

Public

Grades 9-12

2,398 Students

El Cajon Valley High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,652 Students

Merit Academy

Public

Grades 9-12

79 Students

Elite Academy

Public

Grades 9-12

44 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Area
  • Damon Lane County Park
  • Lonny Brewer County Park
  • Mt. Helix Park
  • Woodhaven County Park

Airports

  • San Diego International

Top Apartments in El Cajon

Houses for Rent in El Cajon

Property Management Companies in El Cajon, CA

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.