How many renters in El Cajon, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in El Cajon, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

70.1% (±3.9 points) of renting households in El Cajon, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

60.9% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 42.3% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 70.1% (±3.9 points)
Paying 35% or more: 60.9% (±3.4 points)
Median share of income: 42.3% (±2.8 points)

Rent as a share of income in El Cajon

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	El Cajon	San Diego County	California	United States
Less than 15%	6.1% (±1.4 points)	7.7%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	6.0% (±1.4 points)	10.4%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	9.3% (±2.1 points)	12.1%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	8.6% (±1.5 points)	12.1%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	9.2% (±1.9 points)	10.1%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	60.9% (±3.4 points)	47.7%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

El Cajon against San Diego County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	El Cajon	San Diego County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	70.1% (±3.9 points)	57.8% (±0.7 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	60.9% (±3.4 points)	47.7% (±0.6 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	42.3% (±2.8 points)	33.9% (±0.3 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$50,981 (±$3,524)	$78,016 (±$867)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,856 (±$27)	$2,246 (±$11)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In El Cajon, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in San Diego County (57.8%).

It is also higher than in California (55.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In San Diego County, El Cajon ranks 9 of 49 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 126 of 1,067.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near El Cajon

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with El Cajon
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
El Cajon	—	70.1% (±3.9 points)	—
Bostonia	1.6 mi	61.3% (±10.9 points)	Not measurably different
Casa de Oro-Mount Helix	2.7 mi	48.9% (±9.2 points)	Lower
Winter Gardens	3.2 mi	54.5% (±9.7 points)	Lower
Granite Hills	3.2 mi	72.8% (±45.7 points)	Not measurably different
Rancho San Diego	3.6 mi	62.8% (±11.6 points)	Not measurably different
Santee	4.0 mi	64.6% (±5.2 points)	Not measurably different
La Mesa	4.2 mi	60.8% (±5.0 points)	Lower
Lakeside	5.0 mi	52.1% (±12.2 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, CA (48.9%), Winter Gardens, CA (54.5%), La Mesa, CA (60.8%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across San Diego County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
3	Rainbow	87.2% (±42.8 points)
4	Camp Pendleton Mainside	86.6% (±21.3 points)
5	Eucalyptus Hills	78.4% (±31.9 points)
6	Harbison Canyon	76.7% (±25.2 points)
7	Granite Hills	72.8% (±45.7 points)
8	Rancho Santa Fe	71.1% (±64.6 points)
9	El Cajon	70.1% (±3.9 points)
10	Harmony Grove	65.5% (±57.5 points)
11	Bonita	65.3% (±18.2 points)
12	Santee	64.6% (±5.2 points)
13	San Marcos	63.5% (±4.7 points)
14	Rancho San Diego	62.8% (±11.6 points)
15	Chula Vista	62.2% (±3.0 points)

Showing 13 of 49 places in San Diego County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about El Cajon

Are renters in El Cajon rent-burdened?

70.1% of renting households in El Cajon pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in El Cajon spend on rent?

The median renting household in El Cajon, CA spends 42.3% (±2.8 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for El Cajon city, California (place:21712, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.