Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

El Centro, CA

MSAEl Centro#1/7 Population

Census

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Demographicsi2024 ACS 5-Year EstimatesCensus

44,240population

31median age

This community is a community of 44,240 with a median age of 31. The population is predominantly Hispanic/Latino (86.7%) with a significant White community (8.1%). Median household income is $53,082. 73.3% of adults hold a high school diploma or higher, and 14.9% have a bachelor's degree. The homeownership rate is 49.5%, with a median home value of $323,100.

Race & Ethnicityi

Hispanic/Latino

86.7%38,336

White

8.1%3,589

Black

3%1,322

Two or More

1%432

Asian

1%430

Other

0.1%48

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%43

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%40

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.2%1,113

High School Diploma

22.9%6,083

Some College (<1 yr)

5.2%1,372

Some College (1+ yr)

17.4%4,633

Associate's Degree

8.8%2,333

Bachelor's Degree

9.3%2,464

Master's Degree

4.2%1,118

Professional Degree

1.3%347

Doctorate

0.1%29

HS or Higher

73.3%

BA or Higher

14.9%

Graduate+

5.6%

Housingi

$323,100median home value

$1,052median rent

49.5%homeownership

14,656total units

12%vacancy

Tenure

Owner 49.5%

Renter 50.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

11.9%759

$50K–$100K

3.4%214

$100K–$150K

2.4%150

$150K–$200K

4%256

$200K–$300K

20.5%1,307

$300K–$500K

49.6%3,160

$500K–$1M

7.6%484

$1M+

0.7%47

Rent Distribution

Under $500

256

$500–$750

1,136

$750–$1,000

1,448

$1,000–$1,250

1,400

$1,250–$1,500

572

$1,500–$2,000

1,082

$2,000+

372

Year Built

2020 or later

1.7%251

2010–2019

4.8%703

2000–2009

14.6%2,133

1990–1999

14.3%2,100

1980–1989

17.3%2,533

1970–1979

18.3%2,688

1960–1969

11.7%1,718

1950–1959

11.1%1,630

1940–1949

3.4%494

1939 or earlier

2.8%406

Heating Fuel

Electricity

70.4%9,076

Utility Gas

24.6%3,168

No Fuel

3.3%424

Bottled/LP Gas

1.5%195

Solar

0.2%22

Wood

0%5

Household Economyi

$53,082median household income

$23,590per capita income

21.4%poverty rate

9.8%unemployment

18,401labor force

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

7.3%936

$10K–$15K

4.7%611

$15K–$20K

3.7%480

$20K–$25K

5.9%758

$25K–$30K

4.9%632

$30K–$35K

4.8%621

$35K–$40K

5.1%655

$40K–$45K

5.1%660

$45K–$50K

4.5%582

$50K–$60K

9.2%1,183

$60K–$75K

8.7%1,127

$75K–$100K

9.5%1,229

$100K–$125K

6.4%824

$125K–$150K

7.6%984

$150K–$200K

7.1%914

$200K+

5.4%694

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

13,10729.6%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

12,496

Philippines

Canada

Korea

Guatemala

China

Germany

India

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

16,119

Avg. Commutei

22 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

16,527

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

1,527(5% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

95.3%Insured

4.7%Uninsured