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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

El Centro

California · 37,835 residents · 12.117 sq mi
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The short version

El Centro has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $33,161. Population has grown 21% since 1990. 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value is $97,700. At a median age of 30.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 30% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 30.0
US median: 35.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 5%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
37,835
+21%since 1990
from 31,384 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
30.0
+8%since 1990
from 27.7 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
30K34K38K42K46K1990201020202024El Centro
202444K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 58.4%(3,161)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 99.6%(3,639)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 149.7%(3,679)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 199.2%(3,491)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.4%(2,417)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.8%(5,216)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415.1%(5,716)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411.7%(4,438)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646.7%(2,549)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 745.5%(2,063)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.1%(1,167)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over0.8%(299)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$33,161
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 1990
from $25,147 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$13,874
+40%since 1990
from $9,898 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
22.8%
−0.5 ptssince 1990
from 23.3% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$97,700
−5%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $78,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$527
−7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $431 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
50.2%
−2.3 ptssince 1990
from 52.5% in 1990
49.8% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in El Centro on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic59.9%(18,792)
Black4.5%(1,413)
Hispanic / Latino64.7%(20,301)
Asian2.7%(846)
2000
White, non-Hispanic18.1%(6,837)
Black2.8%(1,042)
Hispanic / Latino74.6%(28,219)
Asian3.2%(1,208)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican83.4%(36,895)
Spaniard1.4%(625)
Guatemalan0.3%(132)
Puerto Rican0.1%(63)
Dominican0.1%(55)
Salvadoran0.1%(38)
Nicaraguan0.1%(33)
Honduran0.1%(30)
Colombian0.1%(28)
Peruvian0%(16)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Cuban0%(14)
Chilean0%(8)
Asian origin
Filipino0.5%(221)
Korean0.2%(107)
Chinese0.2%(78)
Asian Indian0.2%(68)
Japanese0%(17)
Hmong0%(11)
Laotian0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan1.3%(590)
Chamorro0.1%(51)
Tongan0%(2)
Ancestry
English3.4%(1,499)
German2.1%(951)
Irish1.7%(762)
Italian1%(463)
American0.8%(372)
West Indian0.6%(258)
Jamaican0.6%(258)
French0.5%(229)
Scottish0.4%(160)
Polish0.3%(115)
Norwegian0.3%(113)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Canadian0.2%(97)
Swedish0.2%(93)
Swiss0.2%(77)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(58)
Ukrainian0.1%(47)
Ghanaian0.1%(38)
Arab0.1%(24)
Czech0.1%(23)
British0%(20)
Russian0%(20)
Welsh0%(17)
Lebanese0%(14)
Croatian0%(13)
Iranian0%(13)
Dutch0%(12)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Spaniard population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.0%
+0.5 ptssince 1990
from 13.5% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
62.9%
+3.3 ptssince 1990
from 59.5% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
5.6%
−0.1 ptssince 1990
from 5.7% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.3 min
−14%since 1990
from 14.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.6%(3,882)
Married61.8%(8,098)
Widowed2.6%(336)
Divorced6%(789)
Women 15+
Never married27.4%(3,898)
Married54.4%(7,736)
Widowed10%(1,422)
Divorced8.2%(1,166)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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Compare El Centro to nearby cities

EL CENTRO VS
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Income$90,195+172%
Home value$360,900+269%
Population22,330−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EL CENTRO VS
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Income$49,783+50%
Home value$313,600+221%
Population38,623−13%
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EL CENTRO VS
Brawley
Income$59,311+79%
Home value$290,700+198%
Population28,008−37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EL CENTRO VS
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Income$74,015+123%
Home value$232,600+138%
Population14,934−66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in El Centro, California?

El Centro, California has about 37,835 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in El Centro, California earns about $33,161 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 $97,700, and the typical rent is about $527 a month.

How educated are people in El Centro, California?

About 14.0% 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 22.8% 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 6,451 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.

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

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