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CA area data

El centro, CA

El centro, CA.

Population: 49,069 (Census ACS)

The median home value in El centro, CA is $394,443 — up 6.8% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $240,000 after a median 26 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,611/month. 26 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with earthquake, inlandflooding, drought the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 13.3% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

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

$394,443

Median home value

+6.8%

1-year change

26

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$394,443
1-year appreciation
+6.8%
3-year appreciation
+19.8%
5-year appreciation
+32.8%
10-year appreciation
+92.7%
All-time peak (2026-07)
$394,443
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
$240,000
Median list price
$225,000
Median price per sqft
$175
1-year sale-price change
+17.9%
Median days on market
26 days
Homes sold (recent period)
5
For-sale inventory
49
Sale-to-list ratio
100.3%
Active listings
4
1-year forecast
+2.0%
Days to pending
42 days
New listings (monthly)
18

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

Rents

Typical rent
$1,611/mo
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
26
Elementary schools
13
Middle schools
2
High schools
6
Charter schools
3
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, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
earthquake, inlandFlooding, drought, heatWave, strongWind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
drought: Relatively Moderate · earthquake: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · inlandFlooding: Relatively High · strongWind: Relatively Moderate · volcanicActivity: Relatively Low
FEMA flood zone
X
Flood risk level
Minimal
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)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

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)
61
Days with Good air quality
104
Days with Moderate air quality
214
Days with Unhealthy air quality
3
Highest AQI recorded (year)
506

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

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 nearby (~15 mi)
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 · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-643 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,982
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
45,830
Average weekly wage
$852
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Agriculture, Accommodation & Food
Annual residential building permits (county)
153

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

How it compares

El centroState medianUS median
Median home value$394,443$702,573$289,727
Median sale price$240,000$696,000$325,000
Median days on market26 days39 days51 days
Typical rent$1,611/mo$2,767/mo$1,808/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 median home value in El centro, CA?
$394,443.
What is the median sale price in El centro, CA?
$240,000.
How long do homes take to sell in El centro, CA?
Median days on market: 26 days.
What is typical rent in El centro, CA?
Typical rent: $1,611/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in El centro, CA?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: earthquake, inlandFlooding, drought, heatWave, strongWind.
Is El centro, CA in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone X.
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, 2022-23).
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: 61. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in El centro, CA?
Regional Price Parity: 113.3 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for El centro

Selling a home in El centro, CA?

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Data last updated

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

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