City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

El Centro, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for El Centro - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

44,186
Residents
$56,093
Median income
$291,100
Median home
$1,362
Median rent (state)

El Centro - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, El Centro lands in the 29th percentile for household income and the 42nd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

29th
percentile, household income
64th
percentile, home value
52nd
percentile, median rent
42nd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: El Centro, CA

44,186 people live in El Centro, California - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. El Centro households earn a median of $56,093 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 17.2%. Typical homes in El Centro are valued around $291,100, and the median resident age is 31.6 years. 15.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 53.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 70 residential building permits were authorized in El Centro (Slowing), down 19% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. El Centro reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1595.9 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 74.3°F with 2.5 inches of precipitation per year.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,362 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Workers in El Centro report an average commute of 21.8 minutes, with 78.0% driving alone and 4.6% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 96.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

44,186 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$56,093 /yr

Poverty 17.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does El Centro compare to other US cities?

Where El Centro sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 29% higher than other cities
Home value 64% pricier than other cities
Median rent 52% pricier than other cities
Safety 42% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just California and the picture shifts: El Centro ranks #164 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares El Centro against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places El Centro near the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, El Centro ranks #1,373 - the 3rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares El Centro only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,102 of 1,338
18th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1,373 of 1,458
3rd percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1,071 of 1,343
20th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#245 of 1,450
83rd percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,017 of 1,458
30th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

29thIncome percentile
42ndSafety percentile

29th percentile nationally for median household income · 42nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

El Centro's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

El Centro's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 38 Avg. percentile National median
El Centro's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How El Centro's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$291,100 36th percentile more affordable than 36% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). This entry sits in this band. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. El Centro $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - El Centro, CA El Centro, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not El Centro, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution El Centro, CA median $56,093/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
El Centro, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for El Centro, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 17.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
44,186
Median Income
$56,093
Median Home Value
$291,100
Median Age
31.6
Poverty Rate
17.2%
Labor force participation
53.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1595.9
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
328.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1267.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
74.3°F
Annual Precipitation
2.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
24
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
44,000 residents44,200 residents44,400 residents44,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 44,420 residents 44,382 residents ▼ -0.1%
El Centro's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
70
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
60
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 86
2020 118
2021 74
2022 63
2023 2
2024 70

Permit volume decreased 19% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.8 minutes
Drive Alone
78.0%
Carpool
14.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.6%
Work from Home
4.6%
Other
1.8%

Based on 16,938 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county El Centro sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,362/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Oakley
44,311 people
Rohnert Park
44,461 people
Lompoc
43,819 people
Danville
43,426 people
Palm Springs
44,998 people
Morgan Hill
45,152 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to El Centro's 44,186 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

North Fort Myers, FL
44,189 people
Wilkes-Barre, PA
44,217 people
Concord, NH
44,219 people
Salem, MA
44,241 people
Freeport, NY
44,102 people
Saratoga Springs, UT
44,070 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to El Centro's $56,093 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Gorman, NC
$56,094 median income
Bayside, TX
$56,094 median income
Cameron, MO
$56,090 median income
Campbellsburg, KY
$56,087 median income
Plainview, NE
$56,100 median income
Salem, NM
$56,103 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - El Centro, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition El Centro, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 24.1% 45.3% 24.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 86.9% White 24.1% Black or African American 4.3% Asian 1.2% American Indian 1.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 45.3% Two or more races 24.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How El Centro compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
El Centro (this city) 44,186 $56,093
Oakley 44,311 $132,067
Rohnert Park 44,461 $96,635
Lompoc 43,819 $70,038
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about El Centro, CA?

What is the population of El Centro, CA? +

El Centro, CA counts 44,186 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in El Centro, CA? +

El Centro households earn a median of $56,093 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in El Centro? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for El Centro; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is El Centro, CA safe? +

El Centro has a total crime rate of 1595.9 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in El Centro, CA? +

El Centro's median home value sits at $291,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in El Centro? +

The average annual temperature in El Centro runs 74.3°F, 2.5 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.