Wealth Index
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | El Cajon | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $65,004 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,131 | $68,943 | $61,726 |
| Average income growth | 5.1% | 6.0% | 5.1% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.0% | 16.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in El Cajon is about 33% lower than in California. Income has been growing slower in El Cajon (5.1%/yr) than in California (6.0%/yr).
About 9% of adults in El Cajon earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 17%.
Median Household Income 2009–2023 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in El Cajon, California grew by 35.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching $65,004 in 2023. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Economic Inequality in El Cajon | Gender Pay Gap | Gini Coefficient
| Metric | El Cajon | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.583 | 0.596 | 0.570 |
| Male Median Income | $54,549 | $73,016 | $67,746 |
| Female Median Income | $51,453 | $63,704 | $54,793 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 5.7% | 12.8% | 19.1% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In El Cajon, it is 0.583, lower than California's 0.596, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.570, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 6% more than women's income in El Cajon, California. Over a 35-year career, a 6% wage gap accumulates to roughly $108,360 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in El Cajon, California has narrowed from about 22% to 6% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $6,795 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | El Cajon | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.1% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 4,549 people are unemployed in El Cajon, California.
The average commute time in El Cajon is 22 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in El Cajon, California has fallen from 12.1% to 9.5% in 2023.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, El Cajon, California has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than California, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in El Cajon, California.
How Wealthy Is El Cajon, California?
El Cajon has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $65,004, about 33% lower than the California average of $96,718.
What is the current median household income in El Cajon, California?
As of 2023, the median household income in El Cajon, California is $65,004.
What was the median household income in El Cajon in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in El Cajon, California was $65,004.
What was the median household income in El Cajon in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in El Cajon, California was $55,507.
What is the Gini coefficient in El Cajon, California?
The Gini coefficient in El Cajon is 0.583. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.570, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in El Cajon, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in El Cajon, California has narrowed from about 22% to 6% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $6,795 since 2009.