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City · 44,240 residents · Imperial County, California

El Centro , California

In El Centro, a typical home is worth $323,100 and typical rent is $1,052 a month. Compared with all of Imperial County, typical household income is 8% lower and the share of households that own their home is 7 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $323,100

    4% above the county

    56% below California

    • El Centro
    • Imperial
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,052a month

    About the same as the county

    48% below California

    • El Centro
    • Imperial
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $53,082a year

    8% below the county

    46% below California

    • El Centro
    • Imperial
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    49%

    7 points below the county

    6 points below California

    • El Centro
    • Imperial
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$391,767
5.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,573 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

El Centro is in Imperial County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Imperial County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets El Centro apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. El Centro has the 19th lowest typical rent of the 648 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($1,052).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in El Centro rose 5.6%; in California, it rose 0.6%.

  3. El Centro has the 36th lowest typical household income of the 659 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($53,082).

  4. Nearby, in Holtville, the typical rent is $861: 18% less than in El Centro ($1,052).

  5. 49% of households in El Centro own their home, against 57% in Imperial County.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in El Centro

What homes there are in El Centro, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In El Centro, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Imperial County, 6.

Year built

The typical home in El Centro was built in 1982, 6 years before the typical one in Imperial County.

There are fewer big homes in El Centro than in Imperial County: 56% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 60%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

By price, most homes in El Centro sit under the FHA limit for Imperial County ($541,287): about 93%.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Imperial County is $1,347; about 67% of rents in El Centro are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,839 a month

Imperial County: $1,774 a month

Without a mortgage

$621 a month

Imperial County: $554 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Imperial County: 59%

In El Centro, 62% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,839 a month, about the same as in Imperial County.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in El Centro rose 68%; in Imperial County, it rose 58%.

Rents in El Centro rose faster than in Imperial County: 31% since 2015–2019, against 27%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureEl CentroImperial CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.3%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 10.9%9.9%8.2%3.4%
People per household 3.403.492.842.53
Drive alone 77%79%66%69%
Carpool 13%9%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 6%7%17%15%
Other means 2%2%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More than one person per room: that is how 10.9% of households in El Centro live, near the figure in Imperial County (9.9%).

A household in El Centro has 3.40 people on average, about the same as in Imperial County (3.49).

In El Centro, 13% of workers share a car to get to work; in Imperial County, 9%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in El Centro?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in El Centro, worth $323,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 60% of the typical household income in El Centro, which is $53,082 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $113,116 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Imperial County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in El Centro. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $11,309 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,639

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$317,247
Total interest
$456,444
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,456 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,239 a month

  • Tight

    $1,239 to $1,592 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,592 a month

    Your payment · 60%

Compared with the typical household income in El Centro ($53,082 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,639
Principal & interest$2,149
Property tax$213
Home insurance$135
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$143

You need at least $11,309 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

El Centro and Imperial County

El Centro is in Imperial County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

El Centro's own numbers

Typical home value
$323,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,052
Typical yearly household income
$53,082
Households that own their home
49%
Effective property tax rate
0.79%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Imperial County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,347
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+60%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.4%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Imperial County.

Everything about Imperial County

Buying

Buying a home in El Centro

A typical home in El Centro is worth $323,100: 4% above the county and 56% below California. With the typical household income in El Centro ($53,082 a year), a typical home costs 6.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • El Centro 6.1 years
  • Imperial 5.4 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Imperial County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Imperial County rose 109% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Imperial County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +7.3% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +60% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +109% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

El Centro next to Imperial County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • El Centro $323,100
  • Imperial $309,600
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • El Centro $1,052
  • Imperial $1,056
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • El Centro $53,082
  • Imperial $57,681
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
El Centro next to Imperial County and California
Measure El Centro Imperial County California U.S.
Typical home value $323,100 $309,600 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,052 $1,056 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $53,082 $57,681 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 49% 57% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,567 $2,394 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.79% 0.77% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 54% 53% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Imperial County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in El Centro

For a typical $323,100 home in El Centro, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, El Centro's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,639a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $11,309
    Cash to close
    $21,002
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $143

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,580a month

    Down payment
    $16,155
    Cash to close
    $25,848
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $153

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,098a month

    Down payment
    $64,620
    Cash to close
    $74,313
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,397a month

    Down payment
    $48,465
    Cash to close
    $58,158
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for El Centro and for Imperial County.

Property tax

Effective rate in El Centro

0.79%of the home’s value each year

$2,567 a year for the typical owner in El Centro.

  • El Centro 0.79%
  • Imperial 0.77%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Imperial County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Imperial County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.4%
601
Of those, with NFIP insurance
4.2%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.4% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 4.2% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in El Centro

Typical rent in El Centro is $1,052 a month: about the same as the county. In El Centro, 54% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Imperial County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,347 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.90 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Imperial County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $938 $18.04 $37,520
1 bedroom $1,030 $19.81 $41,200
2 bedrooms $1,347 $25.90 $53,880
3 bedrooms $1,819 $34.98 $72,760
4 bedrooms $2,251 $43.29 $90,040

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in El Centro

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). El Centro is in ZIP code 92243.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,350: $3 more than the fair market rent for Imperial County ($1,347).

  • 92243 $1,350$1,820

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for El Centro when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in El Centro

HUD lists 16 buildings with rents for lower incomes in El Centro. These are the largest.

  • Plaza Senior Apts 1755 W Main St, El Centro 92243 172 homes, 171 low-income · 1 bd: 172 · In service since 2005 · For families
  • Fairfield Homes 443 Park Ave, El Centro 92243 117 low-income homes · Run by Imperial Valley Housing Authority · Average payment: $565 a month · Average wait: 45 months · Homes at several sites (760) 351-7000
  • Orangewood Homes 511 W Commercial Ave, El Centro 92243 117 low-income homes · Run by Imperial Valley Housing Authority · Average payment: $745 a month · Average wait: 30 months · Homes at several sites (760) 351-7000
  • El Centro Senior Villas 515 Park Ave, El Centro 92243 81 homes, 80 low-income · 1 bd: 65 · 2 bd: 16 · In service since 2002 · For older adults
  • Imperial Gardens Family Apts 1798 W Euclid Ave, El Centro 92243 77 homes, 76 low-income · 2 bd: 40 · 3 bd: 24 · 4 bd: 13 · In service since 2009 · For families

See all 66 buildings in Imperial County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in El Centro

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Imperial County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in El Centro

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for El Centro or Imperial County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in El Centro the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near El Centro

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of El Centro, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Coachella Valley Housing Coalition

    45701 Monroe St Ste G, Indio · 75 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (760) 347-3157

  • Urban League of San Diego County

    4305 University Ave Ste 360, San Diego · 90 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (619) 266-6237

  • Credit.org - National City

    2140 Hoover Ave, National City · 90 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (800) 431-8157

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near El Centro

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of El Centro

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Imperial County is named for El Centro or Imperial County.

2 other authorities have an office in Imperial County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Imperial County

These cities are also in Imperial County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Imperial County Housing in California

Nearby cities

The cities closest to El Centro, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Imperial County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in El Centro.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about El Centro

Short answers with the numbers for El Centro and all of Imperial County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in El Centro?

The typical home value in El Centro is $323,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Imperial County it is $309,600.

How much does it cost to rent in El Centro?

Typical rent in El Centro is $1,052 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Imperial County is $1,347.

What is the FHA loan limit in El Centro?

El Centro uses the FHA limit for all of Imperial County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in El Centro?

The typical homeowner in El Centro pays $2,567 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.79% of the home’s value; in Imperial County, the rate is 0.77%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in El Centro?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Imperial County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).