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CITY · 2020 ACS

El Centro

California · 44,322 residents · 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 $47,366. Population has grown 17% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $210,100. The poverty rate of 24.2% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 40% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 35.0
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 43%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
44,322
+17%since 2000
from 37,835 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
35.0
+17%since 2000
from 30.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
30K34K38K42K46K1990201020202024El Centro
202444K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 56.1%(2,703)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.5%(3,343)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 148.3%(3,666)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 197.7%(3,418)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.8%(3,036)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3413.5%(5,982)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4411.8%(5,242)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5411.5%(5,115)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6412%(5,298)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 748.9%(3,948)
US avg: 10%
75 to 844.1%(1,831)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.7%(740)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$47,366
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $33,161 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$19,062
+37%since 2000
from $13,874 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
30.7%
+5.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
24.2%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 22.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information13.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing7.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction7.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade5.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Retail trade3.6%
US avg: 10%
Other services3.5%
US avg: 6.6%
Education & health services2.9%
US avg: 0.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration1.9%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$210,100
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $97,700 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$821
+4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $527 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
47.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2000
from 50.2% in 2000
52.8% rent
Afford Score
4.4
−24%since 2009
from 5.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic8.7%(3,877)
Black1.6%(725)
Hispanic / Latino87%(38,566)
Asian1.3%(593)
Other0.7%(310)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican84%(36,844)
Spaniard1.3%(551)
Puerto Rican0.6%(270)
Salvadoran0.2%(87)
Dominican0.2%(82)
Colombian0.2%(71)
Venezuelan0.1%(56)
Bolivian0.1%(32)
Nicaraguan0.1%(29)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Cuban0%(9)
Asian origin
Filipino0.6%(266)
Asian Indian0.5%(214)
Korean0.4%(154)
Chinese0.3%(131)
Taiwanese0.1%(30)
Japanese0%(16)
Laotian0%(2)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan1.2%(512)
Chamorro0.2%(82)
Tongan0%(1)
Ancestry
Irish1.7%(756)
English1.6%(719)
German1.6%(700)
American1.3%(559)
French1%(432)
Swiss0.4%(180)
Swedish0.3%(153)
Scottish0.3%(146)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(116)
Italian0.2%(96)
Greek0.2%(70)
+ 23 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.1%(55)
Russian0.1%(50)
Lebanese0.1%(48)
Israeli0.1%(40)
Austrian0.1%(37)
Welsh0.1%(32)
British0.1%(30)
Danish0%(20)
Dutch0%(20)
Iranian0%(18)
Polish0%(17)
Croatian0%(14)
Hungarian0%(13)
Brazilian0%(12)
Haitian0%(11)
Czech0%(1)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest Subsaharan African population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.7%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 14.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
71.1%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 62.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
6.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.3 min
+65%since 2000
from 12.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 79.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.6%
−4.5 ptssince 2009
from 12.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
12.1%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 16.0% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
56.8%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 60.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.8%
−28.4 ptssince 2009
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
27.9%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 30.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.7%
−74.6 ptssince 2013
from 80.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married45.4%(7,601)
Married46.2%(7,731)
Widowed2.3%(383)
Divorced6.1%(1,028)
Women 15+
Never married34.8%(5,621)
Married42.7%(6,897)
Widowed10.2%(1,646)
Divorced12.2%(1,973)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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EL CENTRO VS
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EL CENTRO VS
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Income$59,311+25%
Home value$290,700+38%
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EL CENTRO VS
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Income$74,015+56%
Home value$232,600+11%
Population14,934−66%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in El Centro, California?

El Centro, California has about 44,322 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in El Centro, California earns about $47,366 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 $210,100, and the typical rent is about $821 a month.

How educated are people in El Centro, California?

About 16.7% 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 24.2% 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 12,938 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 →