Moving from El Cajon, CA to Hampton, VA
It is 2699 mi and 47h 16m from El Cajon to Hampton — a cross-country move across 7 states. Housing, cost of living, climate, and tax picture all tend to shift substantially at this distance. This page pulls the current figures from each federal source and Zillow Research into one comparison.
2699 mi · 47h 16m by car · VA → TN → AR → TX → NM → AZ → CA
Distance & route
| Route through | VA → TN → AR → TX → NM → AZ → CA |
|---|---|
| Primary highways | I 40, I 10, I 20 |
| Major cities en route | Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Newport News, Richmond |
Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.
Cost of living
| El Cajon | Hampton | U.S. avg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items (RPP) | 111.887 | 97.941 | 100.0 |
| Rents | 174.247 | 89.579 | 100.0 |
| Goods | 107.963 | 96.767 | 100.0 |
| Services | 179.267 | 99.805 | 100.0 |
Moderate COL drop: 12.5% cheaper overall in Hampton than El Cajon on the 2024 BEA RPP.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level · MSA-level); 2024.
Housing prices
12.5% drop on the typical home value — a meaningful shift in monthly mortgage math.
YoY change: El Cajon -2.1%, Hampton -0.3%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.
Climate
| 1991–2020 normals | El Cajon | Hampton |
|---|---|---|
| Annual avg temperature | 65°F | 60°F |
| January avg low | 43°F | 32°F |
| July avg high | 86°F | 87°F |
| Annual snowfall | 0.0" | 2.7" |
| Annual precipitation | 11.6" | 47.8" |
Expect 5.3°F colder year-round on the NOAA 1991–2020 normals.
Light snow year: Hampton gets around 2.7 in annually.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: EL CAJON, CA US, LANGLEY AFB, VA US).
Demographics
| ACS 5-year 2023 | El Cajon | Hampton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,909 | 137,334 |
| Median household income | $66,478 | $67,758 |
| Median age | 35.5 | 36.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.3% | 17.1% |
| Avg household size | 3.09 | 2.38 |
No material income gap at the median: ACS 2023 puts both cities within 5%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.
Jobs & wages
Top occupations in Hampton MSA
| Occupation | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 82,690 | $39,820 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 71,490 | $29,090 |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 69,500 | $31,880 |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 59,850 | $38,810 |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 57,140 | $79,090 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Moving between California and Virginia
State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Virginia's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation — state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.
Best time to move
Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.
To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.
Winter driving along this route
- I-64 across Afton Mountain and I-77 at Fancy Gap see chain requirements in winter storms.
- I-40 through the Smokies and I-75 near Jellico Mountain can see chain requirements in winter storms.
- Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
- I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
- Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.
Frequently asked
How does the job market in Hampton compare to El Cajon?
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $46,990 in the Hampton MSA vs $53,090 in the El Cajon MSA, on total employment of 737,200 and 1,522,620 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.
When is the best time to move from El Cajon to Hampton?
Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 2699 mi drive, weather on the route matters too — see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.
How does household income compare in El Cajon vs Hampton?
Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $67,758 in Hampton vs $66,478 in El Cajon — a 1.9% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.
What is the climate difference between El Cajon and Hampton?
On NOAA 1991–2020 normals, annual average temperature is 59.8°F in Hampton vs 65.1°F in El Cajon (5.3°F colder). Annual snowfall: 2.7 in vs 0.0 in. Annual precipitation: 47.8 in vs 11.6 in.
Is Hampton more expensive than El Cajon?
Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Hampton is 12.5% lower than El Cajon (97.941 vs 111.887, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.
How far is Hampton, VA from El Cajon, CA?
The driving distance is 2699 mi and the route typically takes 47h 16m via I 40 and I 10. The trip crosses 7 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.
How much do homes cost in Hampton compared to El Cajon?
Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $275,341 in Hampton vs $816,317 in El Cajon — a 66.3% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.
Plan the move
Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from El Cajon.
City profiles: El Cajon, CA · Hampton, VA.