Checked
El Centro, CA
City in Imperial County, California. ZIP codes: 92243.
Population
44,240
Land area
12.1sq mi
People per sq mi
3,651
ZIP codes
1
El Centro and its ZIP codes
El Centro at a glance
- El Centro is about 14 times as dense as California as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 209th among 1,570 cities and towns in California.
- The median household income is $53,082, 46% below the California median of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $323,100 (56% below California) and median rent is $1,052 a month.
Local data for El Centro, CA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes1
- Schools22
- Colleges1
- Libraries3
- Banks6
- Post Offices1
- Parks11
- Grocery Stores21
- Restaurants171
- Affordable Housing7
- Home Health Agencies5
- Hospice Care3
- Dialysis Centers3
- Community Health Centers2
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment5
- Private Schools1
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Historic Places1
Housing and community stats
El Centro, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$53,082
Poverty rate
21.6%
Median home value
$323,100
Median rent
$1,052/mo
Homeownership
49.5%
Bachelor's or higher
14.9%
Median age
31.0
Average commute
22.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (36,895), German Americans (951), Irish Americans (762).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Imperial County. PPP loans are for El Centro.
Unemployment rate
21.9%
Aug 2026, -0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,305
67,955 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$52,117
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2.6B
FY 2026, $14,351 per person
How people get to work
El Centro, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.7%
- Carpooled13.3%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked2.1%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.0%
- Worked from home5.9%
Average one-way commute: 22.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
El Centro, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: earthquake
Storm events since 1996
571
Countywide, mostly excessive heat
Flood insurance policies
33
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
107° / 43°F
2.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in El Centro, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.0%
U.S. 33.3% +1.7 pts
Diabetes
15.8%
U.S. 12.1% +3.7 pts
Smoking
12.8%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
21.5%
U.S. 11.1% +10.4 pts
ZIP codes in El Centro
1 in or overlapping El Centro. Population shown
Cities near El Centro
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| HeberCensus-designated place | 3.6 mi | 1.4 |
| ImperialCity | 4.6 mi | 6.3 |
| El Centro Naval Air FacilityCensus-designated place | 6.9 mi | 4.2 |
| SeeleyCensus-designated place | 7 mi | 1.4 |
| CalexicoCity | 7.8 mi | 8.5 |
| HoltvilleCity | 11 mi | 1.1 |
| BrawleyCity | 14 mi | 8.1 |
| WestmorlandCity | 18 mi | 0.6 |
| OcotilloCensus-designated place | 26 mi | 8.9 |
| CalipatriaCity | 27 mi | 3.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is El Centro, CA in?
- El Centro is in Imperial County, California.
- What ZIP codes are in El Centro, CA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping El Centro include 92243.
- What is the population of El Centro, CA?
- About 44,240 people live in El Centro, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near El Centro?
- Nearby places include Heber (3.6 mi), Imperial (4.6 mi), El Centro Naval Air Facility (6.9 mi), Seeley (7 mi), Calexico (7.8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023