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ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 92020

Part of El Cajon, CA
Pop. 57,842·San Diego County·759th most expensive ZIP in California
Median rent (all units)
$2,174/mo
Year-over-Year
-5.2%
Month-over-Month
-0.8%
vs US Median
+$209
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 92020 · $2,174
More expensive than 69% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,965/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,040
1 BR
$2,190
2 BR
$2,670
3 BR
$3,560
4 BR+
$4,310
Research median
$2,670/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$26,088/yr
At $2,174/mo median
Location
StateCA
CountySan Diego County
Rent Market Meter
Strong Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are down 5.2% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (-5.2% YoY, -0.8% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 92020 (El Cajon, CA) is majority renter-occupied, 27% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
57,842
Median income
$76,032
Median age
37
Renters
55.6%
Age distribution
24.3%
22.6%
24.9%
12.4%
15.8%
Under 1824.3%
18–3422.6%
35–5424.9%
55–6412.4%
65+15.8%
Gender
49.6%
50.4%
Male49.6%
Female50.4%
Race & ethnicity
59.5%
27.9%
White59.5%
Black7.1%
Hispanic27.9%
Asian4.4%
Other1.2%
Education (25+)
14.3%
26.8%
31.9%
27%
No HS diploma14.3%
HS diploma26.8%
Some college31.9%
Bachelor's+27%
Housing tenure
44.4%
55.6%
Owner44.4%
Renter55.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 92020 in El Cajon, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,659 → $2,174
up 31.0%
Income
$64,691 → $76,032
up 17.5%
Population
60,222 → 57,842
down 4.0%
Renter share
57.9% → 55.6%
-2.3 pts
Bachelor's+
26.1% → 27%
+0.9 pts
Median age
35.1 → 37
+1.9 yrs

Rent in ZIP 92020 in El Cajon, CA has climbed 31.0% since 2021, going from about $1,659 per month to roughly $2,174 today. Median household income grew from $64,691 to $76,032 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.5% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 13.5 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 60,222 to 57,842 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.0% change. About 55.6% of households rent today, against 57.9% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 92020 in El Cajon, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 92020

Last updated: July 20, 2026

ZIP code 92020 covers El Cajon, CA. The median rent here is $2,174/mo as of July 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,190/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,670/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($76,032/yr), ZIP 92020 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 5.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is rent in ZIP code 92020?

As of July 20, 2026, the median monthly rent in ZIP 92020 (El Cajon, CA) is $2,174. This is based on aggregated data from public sources and community submissions.

How does ZIP 92020 rent compare to the US average?

ZIP 92020's median rent of $2,174/mo is $209 (11%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo.

How does ZIP 92020 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 92020 is among the more affordable ZIP codes in California, ranking #759 out of 907 ZIPs at $2,174/mo.

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 92020?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $87,000/year (~$42/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,174/mo in ZIP 92020. The local median household income is $76,032/yr, meaning the typical household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 92020?

Rent in ZIP 92020 has decreased 5.2% over the past year as of July 20, 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

Is ZIP 92020 an affordable place to rent?

ZIP 92020 is considered moderate for renters. At $2,174/mo, rent takes approximately 34% of the local median household income ($76,032/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. ZIP 92020 slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

What percentage of ZIP 92020 residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 55.6% of ZIP 92020 households are renters, while 44.4% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, ZIP 92020 has a strong rental market.

How does ZIP 92020 compare to the rest of El Cajon?

ZIP 92020 is more affordable than El Cajon overall. At $2,174/mo, it's $103 below the El Cajon citywide median of $2,277/mo.

When was rent data for ZIP 92020 last updated?

Rent data for ZIP 92020 reflects July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.
Income Affordability
34%
MODERATE

At $2,174/mo, rent takes ~34% of ZIP 92020's median household income ($76,032/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 92020 34%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
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Schools nearby

Public schools near ZIP 92020 (El Cajon, CA)

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