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El Centro, California

city · Imperial County

At a glance

44,240
Population
$323,100
Median home value (all homes)
6% above U.S. median
$396,150
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$1,052/mo
Median rent
22% below U.S. median
$53,082
Median household income
32% below U.S. median
22 min
Average commute
93.5%
Homes with broadband
14.58%
Locations with fiber available
9.9%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 105 — 5% above the national average. how it's computed

Housing24% above
Goods & services3% above
Utilities10% below
Taxes34% below
Insurance11% below
Commute cost18% above
For business: California is CBII band 4/5 · time to build band 5/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Colleges in town:
CET-El Centro Certificates
Nearest 4-year college78 mi
Nearest community college4 mi
Nearest technical college1 mi
High school graduates73.3%
College graduates14.9%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city El Centro
The Economic Development Division of the City of El Centro's Community Services Department is responsible for business and economic development activities throughout the City of El Centro and acts as the primary liaison with business owners, property owners, developers, and local business-oriented organizations to attract and retain businesses. It is also responsible for Housing Programs such as the First Time Home Buyer Program and the Owner Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program, and for Community Development Programs such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
state Governor's Office of Economic Development
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, or GO-Biz, serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth, economic development and business assistance efforts. It offers no-cost consultation to business owners for attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and more.
state Team California
TeamCalifornia is the go-to partner for businesses, site selectors, and communities looking to succeed in California. With our extensive network, we provide direct access to the best sites, accelerate speed-to-market, and give essential resources to streamline decision-making and drive growth.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateNo

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