City

El Centro, CA

2 ZIP codes  ·  Imperial County  ·  California

👥48,556Population
💰$55,890Median HH Income▼ 27% below avg
🎂31.5Median Age
🏠$286,100Median Home Value≈ Avg
🎓30.5%College Grads▼ 21% below avg
📊9.6%Unemployment▲ 96% above avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 50.2% Female 49.8% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 9.4%Hispanic: 84.9%Black: 3.7%Asian: 1%Other: 1.1%Race
White9.4%
Hispanic84.9%
Black3.7%
Asian1.0%
Other1.1%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
6%
5–17
23%
18–24
10%
25–44
26%
45–64
21%
65+
6%

Key Indicators

Median Age31.5 yrs
Avg HH Size3.40
Below Poverty19.8% ▲ 98% above avg
College Grads30.5% ▼ 21% below avg
Unemployment9.6% ▲ 96% above avg
No HS Diploma1,489 (6.3%)
HS Graduate7,343 (30.9%)
Some College2,568 (10.8%)
Associates5,086 (21.4%)
Bachelors2,569 (10.8%)
Graduate Degree4,677 (19.7%)

Education

No HS: 6.3%HS Grad: 30.9%Some College: 10.8%Associates: 21.4%Bachelors: 10.8%Graduate: 19.7%Edu
No HS6.3%
HS Grad30.9%
Some College10.8%
Associates21.4%
Bachelors10.8%
Graduate19.7%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 51.5%Renter: 48.5%Tenure
Owner51.5%
Renter48.5%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
13%
$50k–$100k
5%
$100k–$150k
5%
$150k–$200k
6%
$200k–$300k
25%
$300k–$500k
37%
Over $500k
9%

Financials

Median HH Income$55,890 ▼ 27% below avg
Median Home Value$286,100 ≈ Avg
Home/Income Ratio5.1x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$992/mo
Total Housing Units15,908
Vacant Units1,927

Income Distribution

Under $25k
23%
$25k–$50k
20%
$50k–$75k
16%
$75k–$100k
12%
$100k–$150k
16%
$150k–$200k
6%
Over $200k
6%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
92%
Walked
3%
Work From Home
6%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
42%
15–30 min
37%
30–45 min
11%
Over 45 min
10%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
1%
1940s–1950s
11%
1960s–1970s
18%
1980s–1990s
16%
2000+
53%
About El Centro, CA

El Centro is a city in California, located in Imperial County. The city spans 2 ZIP codes and is home to approximately 48,556 residents. It is a relatively young city, with a median age of 31.5 years.

Economically, El Centro is a solidly middle-class community. The median household income of $55,890 is below the national average. Approximately 19.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 9.6%, significantly above the national average.

The real estate market in El Centro is a mid-range housing market. Median home values stand at $286,100, which is near the national average. Renters typically pay around $992 per month.

The population of El Centro is moderately educated. 30.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average. The community is primarily Hispanic (84.87%).

El Centro, CA offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within California. Spread across 2 ZIP codes, the city's neighborhoods vary in character, density, and demographics — explore each ZIP code below for a detailed breakdown.

ZIP Codes in El Centro
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
92243 48,556 $55,890 $286,100 $992 9.6% 30.5% 51.5%