Census ACS · #253 MSA
El Centro Metro Area
The El Centro, Ca Metropolitan Statistical Area has 179,319 residents. The median household income is $56,393 and the median home value is $279,500.
179,319
Population
43
People / sq mi
$56,393
Median Income
$279,500
Median Home Value
The El Centro CBSA covers 4,176 sq mi of land at 42.9 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 30.4% |
| Black or African American | 2.5% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.7% |
Economy & Income
$56,393
Median Household Income
$22,702
Per Capita Income
17.0%
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The El Centro metro's price level is 95.2 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 4.8% lower the US average. The local median income of $56,393 has the buying power of $59,253 in average-priced US metros.
95.2
Price Level (US = 100)
$59,253
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$56,393
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$279,500
Median Home Value
$1,012
Median Rent
56.8%
Homeownership
Education
71.8%
High School+
16.1%
Bachelor's+
Commute
0.5%
Drive Alone
6.5%
Work From Home
22.0 min
Avg Commute
6.6%
Foreign Born
El Centro spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in California
Largest counties in California
Part of California
Other metros
Metro areas in California
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The El Centro, Ca Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 179,319 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #253 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the El Centro metro area is $56,393, with a per capita income of $22,702.
The El Centro, Ca CBSA spans the state of California.
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More from California
Data for the El Centro, Ca CBSA (20940) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
Homeownership is the standout figure in El Centro: 56.8% of homes are owner-occupied, lower than the national rate. El Centro is a metro area in CA with a population of 179,319.
The typical household earns $56,393, below the US median of $78,538. The poverty rate, 17.0%, is among the steepest of comparable US metro areas and above the national 12.4%. The median home value is $279,500, with typical rent around $1,012.
El Centro is among the least college-educated US metro areas, at 16.1% — below the national 35.0%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.