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CITY

El Centro

California · 44,382 residents (2025 est.) · 12.117 sq mi
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The short version

El Centro has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,082. Population has grown 17% since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $323,100. At a median age of 31.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 46% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 82%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
44,240
+17%since 2000
from 37,835 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,651 / sq mi
+17%since 2000
from 3,122 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
31.0
+3%since 2000
from 30.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:44,382 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
30K34K38K42K46K1990201020202024El Centro
202444K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,082
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,161 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,590
+70%since 2000
from $13,874 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.0%
+11.0 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.6%
−1.2 ptssince 2000
from 22.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.462
−2%since 2010
from 0.473 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance8%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade5.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction5.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Retail trade3.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services3%
US avg: 6.7%
Education & health services2.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.2%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.5%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$323,100
+82%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $97,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,052
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $527 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
49.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 50.2% in 2000
50.5% rent
Vacancy rate
12.0%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
29.6%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 35.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
51.3%
−5.3 ptssince 2009
from 56.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.1
+107%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
32
RELATED:See current rent listings in El Centro on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic18.1%(6,837)
Black2.8%(1,042)
Hispanic / Latino74.6%(28,219)
Asian3.2%(1,208)
Other0%
Diversity Score49.1%(18,559)
2024
White, non-Hispanic8.1%(3,589)
Black3%(1,322)
Hispanic / Latino86.7%(38,336)
Asian1%(430)
Other1.3%(563)
Diversity Score30.2%(13,348)
Diversity Score
30
−38%since 2000
from 49 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 14.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
73.3%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 62.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.6%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.0 min
+79%since 2000
from 12.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
76.7%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 79.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.3%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.9%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.8%
−6.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.9%
−6.2 ptssince 2011
from 16.0% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.1%
−2.9 ptssince 2011
from 60.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.3%
−31.9 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
29.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.0%
−43.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2012
from 12.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.7%
−75.6 ptssince 2013
from 80.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
93.5%
+21.5 ptssince 2017
from 72.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
23.0%
+2.8 ptssince 2016
from 20.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
75.5%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 77.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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EL CENTRO VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in El Centro, California?

El Centro, California has about 44,240 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in El Centro, California?

The typical household in El Centro, California earns about $53,082 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is El Centro, California expensive?

In El Centro, California, the median home is worth about $323,100, and the typical rent is about $1,052 a month.

How educated are people in El Centro, California?

About 14.9% of adults age 25 and over in El Centro, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in El Centro, California?

About 21.6% of people in El Centro, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has El Centro, California grown since 1990?

Yes, El Centro, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 12,856 residents, a change of about 41 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →