El Centro

Population: 44,186
Median household income: $56,093
Median home value: $291,100

Located in Imperial County, California, El Centro is a community with a population of 44,186. At $56,093, its median household income sits in line with Imperial County's $56,393.

Between 2019 and 2023, El Centro's population held roughly steady from 44,003 to 44,186, while its median home value rose 51.1% from $192,600 to $291,100.

78.0% of workers drive to work alone. 54.4% of homes are single-family detached houses.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 44,186
Median age: 31.6 yrs
Median household income: $56,093
Median home value: $291,100
Median gross rent: $992
Housing units: 14,535
Homeownership rate: 50.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 15.8%
Unemployment rate: 9.9%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

44,00344,186

Median household income

$47,864$56,093

Median home value

$192,600$291,100

Median gross rent

$803$992

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	44,003	$47,864	$192,600	$803
2020	43,881	$47,366	$210,100	$821
2021	44,322	$49,244	$221,500	$868
2022	44,184	$54,922	$266,500	$938
2023	44,186	$56,093	$291,100	$992

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 56.3%

5 to 1723.6%

18 to 2410.2%

25 to 3414.2%

35 to 4411.2%

45 to 5411.2%

55 to 6410.0%

65 to 747.4%

75 and over5.8%

	Count	Share
Under 5	2,801	6.3%
5 to 17	10,418	23.6%
18 to 24	4,488	10.2%
25 to 34	6,270	14.2%
35 to 44	4,949	11.2%
45 to 54	4,955	11.2%
55 to 64	4,440	10.0%
65 to 74	3,288	7.4%
75 and over	2,577	5.8%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	3,342	7.6%
Black or African American	1,708	3.9%
American Indian & Alaska Native	21	0.0%
Asian	437	1.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	1	0.0%
Some other race	17	0.0%
Two or more races	261	0.6%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	38,399	86.9%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma26.5%

High school graduate26.0%

Some college or associate's31.7%

Bachelor's degree10.0%

Graduate or professional degree5.8%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	7,022	26.5%
High school graduate	6,880	26.0%
Some college or associate's	8,397	31.7%
Bachelor's degree	2,638	10.0%
Graduate or professional degree	1,542	5.8%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 23 min

Drove alone78.0%

Carpooled14.0%

Public transit0.0%

Walked1.6%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home4.6%

Other means1.9%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	13,205	78.0%
Carpooled	2,363	14.0%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	277	1.6%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	773	4.6%
Other means	320	1.9%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	6,906	42.7%
15 to 29 min	5,919	36.6%
30 to 44 min	1,717	10.6%
45 to 59 min	411	2.5%
60+ min	1,212	7.5%

Households

Average household size: 3.41
Poverty rate: 20.1% (8,823 of 43,832)

	Count	Share
Family households	9,959	77.6%
Nonfamily households	2,873	22.4%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1982

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	12,832	88.3%
Vacant	1,703	11.7%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	6,417	50.0%
Renter-occupied	6,415	50.0%

1-unit, detached54.4%

1-unit, attached2.6%

2 to 4 units14.3%

5 to 19 units11.6%

20 or more units8.9%

Mobile home & other8.3%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	7,904	54.4%
1-unit, attached	371	2.6%
2 to 4 units	2,079	14.3%
5 to 19 units	1,683	11.6%
20 or more units	1,291	8.9%
Mobile home & other	1,207	8.3%

Geography

Place GEOID: 0621782
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 12 sq mi
Water area: 0.02 sq mi
Center point: 32.7864, -115.5602