Area data
El cerrito, CA — ZIP 94530
Population: 26,401 (Census ACS)
The median home value in ZIP 94530 (El cerrito, CA) is $1.15M — up 1.5% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $489,000 after a median 68 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,717/month. 7 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very High, with inlandflooding, drought, earthquake the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 13.3% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$1.15M
Median home value
+1.5%
1-year change
68
Median days on market
Very High
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $1.15M
- 1-year appreciation
- +1.5%
- 3-year appreciation
- -1.9%
- 5-year appreciation
- -5.3%
- 10-year appreciation
- +40.9%
- All-time peak (2022-05)
- $1.32M
- House Price Index (state)
- 417.4 (-0.8% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $489,000
- Median price per sqft
- $531
- 1-year sale-price change
- -15.7%
- Median days on market
- 68 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 2
- For-sale inventory
- 42
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 100.0%
- 1-year forecast
- -1.2%
- New listings (monthly)
- 20
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $2,717/mo
- 1-year rent change
- +6.3%
- Studio fair-market rent
- $1,495/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,869/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $2,330/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $3,029/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $3,495/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (High)
- 113.3 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 32.5¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $22.00/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 7
- Elementary schools
- 3
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 2
- Charter schools
- 1
- School districts serving the area
- Summit Public School K2 District, West Contra Costa Unified
- Schools include
- Summit Public School K2, El Cerrito High, Fairmont Elementary, Harding Elementary, Madera Elementary
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Very High
- Top hazards (county)
- inlandFlooding, drought, earthquake, heatWave, landslide
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- coastalFlooding: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively High · earthquake: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively High · inlandFlooding: Very High · landslide: Relatively High
- FEMA flood zone
- A05
- Flood risk level
- High
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 92% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 13.9%
- Radon potential (county)
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- 1
- Nearest Superfund site
- United Heckathorn Co. (3.7 mi)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 79.0°F
- Average high
- 80.0°F
- Average low
- 78.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 48.3 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)
- 51
- Days with Good air quality
- 173
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 190
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 110
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 16.0 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- 589
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 140,436
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 122,931
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- National parks within ~60 mi
- 11
- Nearest national park
- Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (4 mi)
- National parks include
- Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Alcatraz Island, John Muir National Historic Site
- Airports within 30 mi
- 12
- Nearest airport
- San Rafael Airport (14 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- Buchanan Field (CCR) (14 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 339
- Hospitals include
- ST VINCENT'S BIRMINGHAM, MOBILE INFIRMARY MEDICAL CENTER, MEDICAL WEST, AN AFFILIATE OF UAB HEALTH SYSTEM
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 3.0 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 5.0 / 5
- EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
- 210
- Solar radiation rating
- Good (4.9 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- -5,001 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,956
- Housing built before 1970
- 71.1%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 9.0%
- Median annual property tax
- $9,270
- Mean commute to work
- 23 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 84.0%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 322,307
- Average weekly wage
- $1,600
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 1,199
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| ZIP 94530 | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1.15M | $702,573 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $489,000 | $696,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 68 days | 39 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $2,717/mo | $2,767/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $9,270 | $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 median home value in ZIP 94530?
- $1.15M.
- What is the median sale price in ZIP 94530?
- $489,000.
- How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 94530?
- Median days on market: 68 days.
- What is typical rent in ZIP 94530?
- Typical rent: $2,717/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 94530?
- Overall risk: Very High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: inlandFlooding, drought, earthquake, heatWave, landslide.
- Is ZIP 94530 in a flood zone?
- High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone A05.
- What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 94530?
- Risk to homes is higher than 92% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in ZIP 94530?
- Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 94530?
- 1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: United Heckathorn Co., 3.7 mi.
- How many schools serve ZIP 94530?
- 7 schools (3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is ZIP 94530 walkable?
- Walkability index: 16.0/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in ZIP 94530?
- Moderate. Median AQI: 51. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in ZIP 94530?
- Regional Price Parity: 113.3 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
Nearby ZIP codes
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →