El Centro is home to 180,202 people. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The foreign-born share is 32%. The median age is 33.2, younger than the US median of 38.9. 37,841 more people live here than in 2000. 57% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $57,681, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 81%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about El Centro
What changed most since 1990
Hispanic share65.3% → 86.0%(+20.7 pts)US over the same years: +9.9 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree9.7% → 16.1%(+6.3 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Population109,303 → 180,202(+65%)US over the same years: +35%
Among the 34 metro and micro areas based in California
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)29.6%(1,316)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)28.2%(1,254)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era27.7%(1,231)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War6.6%(291)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.7%(30)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 4,439 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
El Centro, decade by decade
El Centro population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
109,303
$53,862
$173,045
9.7%
60.9
2000
142,361
$58,056
$170,871
10.3%
54.4
2010
174,528
$55,651
$277,069
12.2%
41.7
2020
179,702
$56,023
$250,528
15.4%
33.2
2024
180,202
$57,681
$309,600
16.1%
31.5
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
