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CA area data

El Centro, CA

El Centro, CA.

Population: 49,069 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in El Centro, CA is $392,988 — up 6.3% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $470,000 after a median 38 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,228/month. 26 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with earthquake, inland flooding, drought the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.7% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$392,988

Typical home value

+6.3%

1-year change

38

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$392,988
1-year appreciation
+6.3%
3-year appreciation
+20.0%
5-year appreciation
+31.6%
10-year appreciation
+93.3%
Peak value since 2000 (Aug 2026)
$392,988
House Price Index (state)
423.4 (-0.3% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$470,000
Median list price
$409,000
Median price per sqft
$257
1-year sale-price change
+21.3%
Median days on market
38 days
Homes sold (recent period)
41
For-sale inventory
48
Sale-to-list ratio
100.2%
Active listings
39
1-year forecast
+2.7%
Days to pending
42 days
New listings (monthly)
15

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,228/mo
Studio fair-market rent
$938/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,030/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,347/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,819/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$2,251/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
110.7 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
32.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$22.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
26
Elementary schools
13
Middle schools
2
High schools
6
Charter schools
3
Avg student-teacher ratio
20.8 : 1
School districts serving the area
Imperial Valley ROP, Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences District, Central Union High
Schools include
Imperial Valley ROP, Ballington Academy for the Arts and Sciences, Central Union High, Desert Oasis High (Continuation), Southwest High

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
earthquake, inland flooding, drought, heat wave, strong wind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
earthquake: Relatively High · inland flooding: Relatively High · drought: Relatively Moderate · heat wave: Relatively Moderate · strong wind: Relatively Moderate · wildfire: Relatively Low
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims
Zone X
NFIP flood claims on record
3
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 37% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
17.4%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Stoker Company (10.2 mi — proposed for listing)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
73.7°F
Average high
88.3°F
Average low
59.3°F
Annual precipitation
2.6 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
10a (extreme annual low 30 to 35°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Moderate
Median AQI (annual)
64
Days with Good air quality
101
Days with Moderate air quality
220
Days with Unhealthy air quality
9
Highest AQI recorded (year)
426

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
12.3 / 20
Transit service frequency
844
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
13,678
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
14,628

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

Airports within 30 mi
10
Nearest airport
Imperial County Airport (IPL) (5 mi)
Nearest major airport
Imperial County Airport (IPL) (5 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
1
Hospitals include
EL CENTRO REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
1.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
1.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Excellent (5.9 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-643 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1982
Housing built before 1970
27.8%
Housing built 2000 or later
21.8%
Median annual property tax
$2,520
Mean commute to work
20 min
Households with broadband internet
73.9%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
47,209
Average weekly wage
$895
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Agriculture, Accommodation & Food
Annual residential building permits (county)
242

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

El CentroState medianUS median
Typical home value$392,988$695,380$288,527
Median sale price$470,000$696,000$325,000
Median days on market38 days39 days51 days
Typical rent$1,228/mo$2,786/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$2,520$4,533$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in El Centro, CA?
$392,988.
What is the median sale price in El Centro, CA?
$470,000.
How long do homes take to sell in El Centro, CA?
Median days on market: 38 days.
What is typical rent in El Centro, CA?
Typical rent: $1,228/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in El Centro, CA?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: earthquake, inland flooding, drought, heat wave, strong wind.
Is El Centro, CA in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property within El Centro, CA. 3 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is X. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in El Centro, CA?
Risk to homes is higher than 37% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in El Centro, CA?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near El Centro, CA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve El Centro, CA?
26 schools (13 elementary, 2 middle, 6 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is El Centro, CA walkable?
Walkability index: 12.3/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in El Centro, CA?
Moderate. Median AQI: 64. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in El Centro, CA?
Regional Price Parity: 110.7 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for El Centro

Listing a home in El Centro, CA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents