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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

El Centro Metro

El Centro, CA · 1 counties · 179,702 residents · 4,175.528 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 $46,222. Population has grown 26% since 2000. 15% 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 $206,700. At a median age of 34.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 34.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 47%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
179,702
+26%since 2000
from 142,361 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
43 / sq mi
+26%since 2000
from 34 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
34.6
+12%since 2000
from 31.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
102K124K145K166K188K1990201020202024El Centro
2024180K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,222
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,870 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,064
+36%since 2000
from $13,239 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.8%
+8.8 ptssince 2009
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
22.5%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 22.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information12.4%
US avg: 11.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction9.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance6.5%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade5.5%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.3%
US avg: 10%
Professional, scientific, technical3.5%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Education & health services3%
US avg: 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$206,700
+47%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $93,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$847
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $504 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
55.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2000
from 58.3% in 2000
45.0% rent
Afford Score
4.5
+52%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in El Centro on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic20.2%(28,768)
Black3.6%(5,148)
Hispanic / Latino72.2%(102,817)
Asian1.7%(2,446)
Other0%
Diversity Score51.2%(72,936)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic9.4%(16,813)
Black2.1%(3,846)
Hispanic / Latino85.2%(153,027)
Asian1.2%(2,244)
Other1.4%(2,602)
Diversity Score32%(57,417)
Segregation Score38.8%(69,645)
Diversity Score
32
−38%since 2000
from 51 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
39
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.4%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
70.2%
+11.1 ptssince 2000
from 59.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.1 min
+64%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
79.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 78.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
7.1%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
13.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 16.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
51.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 54.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
25.0%
−32.0 ptssince 2009
from 57.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Female
48.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Foreign born
30.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 31.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.0%
−71.7 ptssince 2013
from 78.7% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
In this metro

Principal cities

El CentroCENTRAL44,382
What's inside

1 component county

Imperial CountyCENTRAL181,411
Drill deeper

Metros similar to El Centro

Greenville
Pop 182,936
Homosassa Springs
Pop 171,666
Jackson
Pop 184,569
Dothan
Pop 156,266
Places similar to El Centro
Head to head

Compare El Centro side by side

EL CENTRO VS
Greenville
Income$58,188+26%
Home value$208,900+1%
Population182,936+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EL CENTRO VS
Homosassa Springs
Income$56,546+22%
Home value$245,500+19%
Population171,666−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EL CENTRO VS
Jackson
Income$60,896+32%
Home value$187,779−9%
Population184,569+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
EL CENTRO VS
Dothan
Income$57,746+25%
Home value$171,459−17%
Population156,266−14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in El Centro, CA?

El Centro, CA has about 179,702 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in El Centro, CA earns about $46,222 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is El Centro, CA expensive?

In El Centro, CA, the median home is worth about $206,700, and the typical rent is about $847 a month.

How educated are people in El Centro, CA?

About 15.4% of adults age 25 and over in El Centro, CA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in El Centro, CA?

About 22.5% of people in El Centro, CA live below the federal poverty line.

Has El Centro, CA grown since 1990?

Yes, El Centro, CA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 70,399 residents, a change of about 64 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

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