City profile
El Centro, CA
Imperial County · Population 44,240
El Centro is a town in Imperial County, CA with about 44,240 residents and a typical home value near $323,000. It is 91 miles from Palm Springs, CA, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Dry desert
Winter avg
60°F
Summer avg
93°F
Sunny days / yr
350
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$323,100
Typical monthly housing
$1,946
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
100
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 97/100
Top hazards: Earthquake, Riverine flooding, Heat wave
Nearest major airport
90 mi to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Competitive / purple · 48% Democratic / 49% Republican
Community
Population
44,240
Black population
3.3%
County
Imperial County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 44,240 residents
- Typical home value about $323,000
- 91 miles from Palm Springs, CA
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.