El Cajon

Background Image

El Cajon, CA

Area Guide

San Diego suburb features easy access to big-city amenities

Shopping Commuter Mountains Diverse Entertainment Community

A suburb of San Diego, El Cajon is a scenic city nestled in a valley and surrounded by mountainous terrain, nicknamed “The Box” for its secluded feel. Located about 17 miles east of Downtown San Diego, El Cajon is an ideal choice for commuters. Residents have easy access to public bus routes, Interstate 8, and Highways 125 and 52. In addition to job opportunities in San Diego, there are so many shopping, dining, and entertainment options as well.

El Cajun resides near Mission Trails Regional Park and Harry Griffen Park, so outdoor adventure is always around the corner. Locals can shop the 170 stores at Parkway Plaza, watch the annual Air Show San Diego event at Gillespie Field, try their luck at the Sycuan Casino, or catch some air at Kennedy Skate Park. Residents appreciate the community events in Downtown El Cajon, such as the weekly Cajun Classic Cruise, the summertime Dinner and a Concert Series, the annual HauntFest, America on Main, and the Mother Goose Parade.

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 August 2025, the average apartment rent in El Cajon, CA is $1,423 for a studio, $1,720 for one bedroom, $2,050 for two bedrooms, and $2,562 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in El Cajon has increased by 0.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,720/month
616 Sq Ft
House
$3,799/month
1,370 Sq Ft
Condo
$2,779/month
1,112 Sq Ft
Townhome
$3,627/month
1,385 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

Vista Grande Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

615 Students

Fletcher Hills Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

605 Students

Pepper Drive Elementary

Public

Grades K-8

712 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 June 2025.