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Nestled in a valley with mountains all around you, El Cajon lets you experience the charms of living in a San Diego suburb with its year-round sunshine and amazing attractions and culture.

From the early 19th century, El Cajon was identified as a pasture for cattle and grape cultivation by padres of Mission San Diego de Alcala. Rancho El Cajon was handed over by the last Mexican Governor Pio Pico to his daughter in 1845. This grant was initially called Rancho Santa Monica and later renamed El Cajon. The name was shortened to Cajon till the town grew and by 1905, it regained its full name of El Cajon.

El Cajon is located in San Diego County in the state of California and stretches across 14.4 square miles. The city shares its boundaries with La Mesa and San Diego on the west, Santee on the north, and Spring Valley on the south. Rancho San Diego is a neighborhood of El Cajon, apart from Bostonia and Fletcher Hills. El Cajon is just 15 miles away from San Diego and is the fifth biggest city in the county of San Diego.

The suburb of El Cajon is located over 130 meters above sea level with an average temperature of around 65 degrees. Temperatures are favorable throughout the year and there is always a low chance of snow or rain. You can expect sunny days and lots of them.

The population of El Cajon is a little over 103,000. It has a young population, with a median age of 32.8, much lower than the US median age of 37.4, according to BestPlaces. The population is mixed and diverse; the suburb has over 3.3 percent Asian, 56.4 percent white, 5.4 percent are black and 29.2 percent belong to the Hispanic ethnicity. El Cajon is a melting pot and is a congenial and comfortable place for anyone who considers moving to San Diego.

Half the population here speaks only English (nearly 56 percent), and there is a sizable chunk of Spanish speakers. According to the World Population Review, Spanish speakers form 20 percent of the suburb’s population.

If you are moving here, you may also be interested in the food scene in El Cajon. The town offers a wide range of cuisine, from Middle Eastern to Mexican. El Cajon is the best place to be if you are interested in a delightful fusion of cuisines; from tacos and burgers to hummus and shawarmas. Little Baghdad in El Cajon is where you’d want to be for a wide variety of bread. The famed Californian fresh from the farm produce and Mexican-Mediterranean-Asian come together in a delightful mishmash. Baja Med, the fusion food of Mexican Mediterranean and Asian elements, is what the region is known for.

From musicals to museums, El Cajon offers a rewarding art and entertainment experience. Take the concerts that are held on Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon, for instance. These concerts are held Friday evenings throughout the summer and you can groove to every genre of music there is here! Then there are the musicals you can attend at the Mt Helix amphitheater in the July-August season. If you are into museums, you must certainly visit the Olaf Wieghorst Museum. Olaf Wieghorst was a renowned artist and his home was converted into the museum, with a gallery and a gift store you can browse. Wieghorst, born in Denmark, settled down in El Cajon and is known for his paintings that depict the American West. supplies once you settle down in your El Cajon home.

Another museum you may be interested in is the Heritage of the Americas Museum. This is a set of four museums that focus on fine art, archaeology, anthropology, and natural history. One of the famous exhibits here is the La Brea Tar Pit fossils which date back several thousand years. The pottery masks are also bound to draw your attention.

The Mother Goose Parade is an annual cultural fest you can enjoy while at El Cajon. The parade, which was first started in 1947, is now an annual event, with different themes every year. Interesting floats, bands, clowns, and equestrian events are part of the parade, which is held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day. Grab a sandwich, and a blanket and laze around with your loved ones on the curb for fantastic views of the parade.

If you like some more art and culture, you must take the El Cajon Art and Culture Walk, a mile-long stretch, which takes you through downtown El Cajon and the historic Highway 80. You can also check out the Art Alley in the downtown region, which has at its center the Olaf Wieghorst Museum. Admire the restored historic buildings as you take in the sights.

Do you love a bit of sport? American professional car racing driver Jimmie Johnson, who is a seven-time champion in the NASCAR Cup Series hails from El Cajon. There’s also Ricky Johnson, motocross racer, Brandon Whitt, a NASCAR driver, AJ Griffin, a current Major League Baseball player, among others. And who can forget volleyball Olympic gold medalists David Lee and Greg Louganis?

El Cajon is also home to parks, playgrounds, and sports fields. The Albert Van Zanten Park is a 15-acre complex that has three baseball/softball fields and also hosts soccer practices. There are also basketball courts aplenty here. You could also try the Cajon Valley Park, a sports complex that has basketball courts and fields, and is home to many sports leagues. The El Cajon Valley High School is the home of the Braves and their football team. If trails are your cup of tea, then check out Hillside Park. This park offers walking trails and picnic opportunities.

Yet another highlight of El Cajon’s outdoor events is the Bass Fishing Team Tournament. What’s even more exciting is the El Cajon night bass-catching event! It has turned into a bit of a tradition in El Cajon, so if you are moving here, you might want to see for yourself what the tournament is all about. The tradition of bass-catching under the night sky was started by the late Kevin Mineo, who was inducted into the San Diego Bass Council Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 1994.

Although Mission Trails Regional Park is not in El Cajon per se, it is not very far from here. Maintained by the city of San Diego, the 7000-acre urban park is one of the biggest in the United States. If you are a lover of flora and fauna, go on a weekend trip to San Diego and visit the Park. You can enjoy the sights of Kumeyaay Lake, the Kwaay Paay Peak, and Cowles Mountain. With 65 miles of trails, the Park attracts hikers and mountain bikers from all over California.

If you plan on living in El Cajon, you should know it has some of the best neighborhoods in the San Diego suburbs. They include Willow Glen Dr/Dehesa Rd, Harbison Canyon, Water St/Murray Dr, Vista Grande Rd/Dehesa Rd, and W Chase Ave/S Magnolia Ave. The nearby areas include La Mesa, Lakeside, Alpine, Spring Valley, Fletcher Hills, Rancho San Diego, and Chula Vista. The Fletcher Hills community in El Cajon, for instance, has plenty of midsize, ie, two and three-bedroom homes, and is an old-style charming neighborhood with a history that dates back to the 1950s.

Most neighborhoods are within walking distance in El Cajon, so even if you aren’t relying on public transport, it is not very difficult to get around. El Cajon is served by the Metropolitan Transit System, which provides public transportation in San Diego. It can also be accessed by MTS Rail and MTS Bus. Seniors in the family? You could use RideFACT, which is affordable and meant for seniors.

The Best Places website says the cost of living index for El Cajon is 144.9, which is more expensive than the national average of 100. Housing makes a big difference in the cost of living index as the median price of a home in the suburb of El Cajon is $521,700. The US median home price is less than half that of an El Cajon home, at $231,200. The housing index for El Cajon is 225.6 while that of California is 239.1 and is more expensive than the national average. The average monthly rent of a studio in El Cajon is $1100 while that of California is $1156 and the US $821. A three-bedroom home would mean an average monthly rent of $2295 in El Cajon as against $1537 which is the US average. This should help you choose the best neighborhoods in San Diego.

The suburb of San Diego is well served by the Cajon Valley Union School District which has many public elementary schools, public middle schools, and high schools under its jurisdiction. There’s also the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District located in the nearby East County of San Diego. This district covers 17 elementary and four middle schools. Then there’s Grossmont Union High School District and the Charter School of San Diego. Colleges in the area include San Diego State University, Grossmont College in El Cajon, and Cuyamaca College.

El Cajon has an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent against the US average of 3.9 percent. Best Places estimates that the average income of an El Cajon resident is $20,430 annually, lower than the US average of $28,555 a year. Occupation wide, over 15 percent of those employed are in retail trade, while 13.2 percent are in healthcare and social assistance. Accommodation and food services provide 11.4 percent of the employment in the suburb.

One of the favorite places for visitors and residents alike is the Sycuan Casino, dubbed among the best casinos in the county. The casino brings a bit of Vegas to El Cajon. It also boasts a luxury hotel tower with 300 suites and rooms. The $260 million investment has improved the local economy and has brought in a range of entertainment, dining, and gaming options as well.

You will thank yourself for making the move to El Cajon. From the surrounding mountains to the never-ending sun, it will feel like you are on a permanent vacation. Reach out to Mi-Box for all of your moving box and storage solutions.