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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

El Cerrito

California · 22,869 residents · 3.672 sq mi
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The short version

El Cerrito is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $39,538. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $252,900. With a median age of 40.9, the population is older than the US median of 33.0.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 40.9
US median: 33.0
More educated
46% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
22,869
−1%vs 2000
vs 23,171 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
40.9
−4%vs 2000
vs 42.7 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
22K23K24K25K26K1990201020202024El Cerrito
202426K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 55.2%(1,190)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 94.8%(1,092)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 143.3%(751)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 194.4%(1,000)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.1%(1,176)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3416.9%(3,858)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4417.1%(3,920)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5411.6%(2,652)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 6410.2%(2,336)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 7413.3%(3,045)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 847%(1,604)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.1%(245)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,538
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $57,253 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,854
−33%vs 2000
vs $32,593 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
5.2%
−1.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 6.7% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$252,900
+14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $291,400 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$695
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $907 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
62.9%
+1.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 61.0% in 2000
37.1% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in El Cerrito on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic53.8%(12,474)
Black8.3%(1,931)
Hispanic / Latino7.9%(1,838)
Asian24.3%(5,636)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic65.6%(15,007)
Black9.2%(2,115)
Hispanic / Latino5.5%(1,263)
Asian22.5%(5,142)
Other2.6%(605)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

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

Hispanic origin
Mexican8.3%(2,161)
Salvadoran1.2%(314)
Peruvian0.6%(157)
Puerto Rican0.6%(149)
Guatemalan0.6%(148)
Colombian0.4%(116)
Spaniard0.4%(103)
Cuban0.4%(97)
Argentine0.3%(77)
Chilean0.2%(59)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Nicaraguan0.2%(49)
Costa Rican0.1%(33)
Panamanian0.1%(27)
Honduran0.1%(19)
Asian origin
Chinese11.8%(3,065)
Filipino4%(1,032)
Nepalese2.6%(687)
Japanese2.6%(667)
Asian Indian1.6%(404)
Korean1.2%(308)
Taiwanese1%(268)
Mien0.5%(118)
Thai0.4%(116)
Vietnamese0.4%(99)
Indonesian0.4%(95)
Mongolian0.4%(92)
+ 8 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.2%(46)
Ancestry
German9.2%(2,382)
English8.2%(2,135)
Irish6.9%(1,788)
American3.5%(903)
Italian3.3%(847)
Polish2.2%(581)
Norwegian2.1%(536)
Russian2%(526)
Scottish2%(510)
Arab1.9%(499)
French1.8%(469)
+ 42 more ancestry groups with data
Iranian1.4%(354)
British1.2%(314)
Swedish1.1%(278)
Hungarian0.9%(231)
Danish0.8%(218)
Dutch0.7%(170)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(163)
Ukrainian0.6%(158)
Portuguese0.6%(143)
Israeli0.5%(131)
Brazilian0.5%(122)
Swiss0.5%(117)
Welsh0.5%(117)
Turkish0.4%(97)
Greek0.4%(91)
Nigerian0.3%(90)
Armenian0.3%(69)
Croatian0.2%(59)
Slovak0.2%(57)
Ghanaian0.2%(56)
Lithuanian0.2%(55)
Serbian0.2%(54)
Palestinian0.2%(50)
Romanian0.2%(50)
Canadian0.2%(48)
West Indian0.2%(42)
Latvian0.2%(40)
Australian0.1%(37)
Jamaican0.1%(35)
Lebanese0.1%(33)
Czech0.1%(28)
Finnish0.1%(26)
Austrian0.1%(25)
Slovene0.1%(22)
Kenyan0.1%(17)
Belgian0.1%(16)
Syrian0.1%(15)
Moroccan0%(12)
RANKED:Largest Chinese population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
46.3%
−9.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 56.0% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
89.3%
−3.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 92.6% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
20.4%
−5.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 25.7% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.6 min
+12%vs 2000
vs 23.8 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married36.5%(3,886)
Married54.5%(5,811)
Widowed2.7%(286)
Divorced6.3%(673)
Women 15+
Never married30%(3,501)
Married51.1%(5,964)
Widowed7.3%(850)
Divorced11.6%(1,350)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in El Cerrito, California?

El Cerrito, California has about 22,869 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in El Cerrito, California earns about $39,538 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is El Cerrito, California expensive?

In El Cerrito, California, the median home is worth about $252,900, and the typical rent is about $695 a month.

How educated are people in El Cerrito, California?

About 46.3% of adults age 25 and over in El Cerrito, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in El Cerrito, California?

About 5.2% of people in El Cerrito, California live below the federal poverty line.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →