Often referred to as the Valley of Opportunity, El Cajon’s fertile soil flourished with citrus and avocado crops through the middle 1800s, before becoming a prospectors’ destination in the 1870s when the nearby town of Julian struck gold. El Cajon’s burgeoning appeal spurred the construction of the iconic Corona Hotel, which burned down in 1920 and is now memorialized by the Knox House Museum. Incorporated in 1912, and exploding in population from 1,400 to nearly 40,000 in just two decades after World War II, El Cajon is now East County’s most populous city. Its Spanish name, meaning “the box,” honors its hemmed-in valley terrain. And although former farmlands now support a metropolitan lifestyle, residents still marvel at surrounding natural wonders like El Capitan, one of the county’s highest peaks.
In the early 2000s, El Cajon offered opportunity as a safe place for refugees from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan fleeing violence in the Middle East. Today, the city is home to the second-largest Iraqi American population in the country, measuring nearly half of El Cajon’s diverse population of around 105,000. “We could go anywhere in San Diego,” says Noor Zoma, CEO of Crafted Greens, an organic café in El Cajon, launched and managed by two generations of her Middle Eastern family, “and we want to stay in El Cajon because it’s such a supportive community. I credit that to the city’s leadership, from the mayor to city council, who are all genuine advocates for small businesses. Our chief of police and firefighters are also such an amazing support system in our city.”
El Cajon’s fusion of influences includes Mediterranean, Mexican, Italian and more, creating a culinary, grocery and retail kaleidoscope with a friendly character. Across the city, residents gather for popular annual events, homes tend to hold value and schools earn high grades. Just 5 miles east, a new $150 million training center for Major League Soccer San Diego FC broke ground in late 2024, and soccer fans can cheer on their team just 10 miles west at Snapdragon Stadium.
A more than 2-square-mile business sector around the Gillespie Air Field brims with hundreds of industrial, aviation and commercial employers. In 2023, the city of El Cajon earned a San Diego Tribune Top Work Place award, and technology and manufacturing companies such as GET Engineering and Precision Metal Products are headquartered here. The primary and largest campus of megachurch Shadow Mountain Community Church sits on a 54-acre site at the city’s east edge. Adds Zoma, “All of El Cajon is close-knit, and there’s a strong sense of family. I’ve lived all over San Diego, and I can tell you, it feels like home when you’re in El Cajon.”
Discover sprawling lots and scenic surroundings in Granite Hills, a gem in El Cajon.
From spices to textiles, El Cajon’s Middle Eastern shops bring the culture to life.
Mal Al Sham in El Cajon offers a true taste of the Middle East with its authentic cuisine.
Granite Hills is home to Shadow Mountain Community Church, a hub for worship and service.
1/4
Mobile, midcentury, modern row home and hilltop options
Homes in El Cajon vary from manufactured to luxury Mediterranean-style two-stories, with most multifamily residences concentrated in central and south El Cajon. Mobile homes ask between $70,000 and $300,000, while condos and townhouses range from $450,000 to $750,000. Newly constructed Spanish-style single-family rowhomes in the south end of the city ask $780,000, and single-family ranch styles near shopping plazas are around $800,000. Larger hilltop beauties overlooking open space can ask more than $1 million. “El Cajon is a popping home market. It’s more affordable than La Jolla or other parts of San Diego, and there’s always a home on the market," says Zoma. "Plus, they just keep going up in value.” The median home price is $780,000 in El Cajon, which is higher than nearby Lemon Grove and lower than in neighboring La Mesa.
Larger hilltop homes in Granite Hills offer breathtaking views of open space.
Fletcher Hills offers a perfect mix of convenience and charm with its townhomes and condos.
Affordable options for all, mobile homes in El Cajon offer great value in a prime location.
Bright paints, and colorful yards add charm to Fletcher Hills.
1/4
Authentic cuisine, Lulu’s Market and nearby malls
Plenty of dining choices on main roads offer everything from kabobs to pancakes to quesadillas. And although the city had banned new bars from opening downtown for nearly 30 years, city council announced in late 2024 that it’s considering proposals for relaxing those laws to welcome more brewpubs and restaurants. Among its selection of grocers, Lulu’s International Market is affectionately dubbed the Whole Foods of the Chaldean community, and Harvest International features an onsite Mediterranean kitchen.
El Cajon also has its share of Old West charm, from square dancing at the Bostonia Recreation Center to cowboy-themed art at the historic Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center. The city’s formerly shuttered performing arts center, the Magnolia, was completely renovated in 2019 to offer a 1,200-seat indoor venue and an outdoor events plaza. The indoor Parkway Plaza has over 100 stores, and San Diego’s largest open-air shopping mecca, Fashion Valley Mall, is less than 15 miles southwest. Westfield UTC, just 20 miles northwest, offers over 200 stores and restaurants, plus a skating rink, theater and dog park.
Harvest International Market brings fresh, diverse ingredients to El Cajon’s community.
The Olaf Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon brings the Wild West to life with stunning artwork.
Experience unforgettable shows at The Magnolia, El Cajon's premier performing arts venue.
From fashion to food, Parkway Plaza in El Cajon has something for every taste.
1/4
Cowles Peak, Kennedy Skate Park and concerts at Prescott Promenade
The city has well more than a dozen parks and rec centers, including ample athletic fields at Wells Park and the city’s only skate park at Kennedy Park. The primary goal of the El Cajon 2030: Connecting People with Parks plan is to achieve a 10-minute walk to a city park for every resident. The 62-acre Fletcher Hills Open Space and the trails to Cowles Mountain Peak reward hikers with spectacular views. For Friday night concerts, locals head to Prescott Promenade downtown. Aviation buffs marvel at refurbished planes, helicopters, missiles and more at the San Diego Air & Space Museum Gillespie Field Annex.
El Cajon's Wells Park is a community hub with a vibrant dog park for playful pups.
Kennedy Park is a hub for outdoor activities and skating in the heart of El Cajon.
Hike Cowles Mountain near El Cajon for panoramic views of San Diego County.
Experience the lively atmosphere of downtown El Cajon on Fridays at Prescott Promenade.
1/4
Highly regarded Grossmont Union High District
Of the three public school districts serving El Cajon, Grossmont Union High School District gets a Niche A grade, and all Grossmont Union High schools earn a B-plus or higher. Grossmont College, which earns a B, opened a new $44 million Performing and Visual Arts Center in 2021. In 2024, San Diego State University, 7 miles west of downtown El Cajon, achieved its third consecutive HEED Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine for its proven dedication to initiatives prioritizing inclusion, equity and diversity.
Fletcher Hills Elementary School fosters a love for learning in the heart of El Cajon.
A legacy of achievement thrives at Grossmont High School in El Cajon.
Grossmont College offers El Cajon residents a gateway to higher education.
Located close to El Cajon, San Diego State University is a hub for innovation and learning.
1/4
Metropolitan Transit System bus stops and a pilot e-vehicle app
Interstate 8 is easily accessible for reaching the beach, downtown San Diego employers or the San Diego International Airport within 20 miles. El Cajon’s western edge is Interstate 125, which heads south to the U.S.-Mexico Border. Public transit is available via San Diego Metropolitan Transit System bus stops along main city corridors for travel within El Cajon or to transit stops outside the city. In early 2024, El Cajon’s city council approved a pilot micro-transit program allowing on-demand electric vehicle transport via mobile app.
Lower property crime than San Diego, stable climate
FBI crime data shows a slight uptick in violent crime rate per 100,000 people in El Cajon, from 86 in January 2022 to 94 in December of 2023, which is still around 20% below the national rate of 121, but higher than the city of San Diego’s 2023 rate of 76. Property crime rate in the same timeframe declined from 135 to 128, nearly 30% lower than the U.S. rate of 180 and lower than San Diego’s rate of 152.
El Cajon’s Mediterranean climate remains fairly stable year-round. Brandt Maxwell, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego since 1995, says, “I’m originally from Kansas and the weather is part of the reason I stay here. Even in the winter, your average highs are around 60, so all your days are relatively mild. Although, in the Midwest, when it’s in the 50s in the winter, you break out the wine and have outdoor festivities, but here, people will still bundle up like it’s 20 degrees.” Compared to San Diego, El Cajon’s days are warmer, and nights are cooler because, Maxwell explains, “It’s easier for land to heat up and cool off than water, so inland you have less of the moderating effect of ocean waters.” Seasonal fog known as “June gloom” that develops over the coast dissipates by afternoon. El Cajon weather is more of a two-season experience: dry and hot from May through November and cool and wet from December through April, with an average winter rainfall of 2 inches per month.
Mother Goose Parade and America on Main Street
Every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving since 1947, El Cajon’s Main Street bustles with San Diego County’s largest parade — Mother Goose — attracting thousands for floats, marching bands, performers and a tree lighting at dusk. The city also gathers in May for America on Main Street — known as the city’s largest block party — and on the Fourth of July in Kennedy Park for the annual Star-Spangled Extravaganza.
My name is KC Rentfro and I am a broker associate with Swell Property based in Encinitas. Swell offers buy and sell representation, property management, vacation rentals, luxury homes, and design-build services. I am an honest, hardworking, and trustworthy real estate broker who will always have your best interest in mind. I am knowledgeable about all areas within San Diego, specialize in the coastal communities, and have a great list of contacts to assist your housing needs. If you are interested in buying, selling, investing, remodeling, relocating, or have questions on financing, give me a call. My work ethic, attitude, customer service, listening skills, market knowledge, and relaxed style are what separate me from others in my field.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
