Metro area profile · California
El Centro, CA metro area market data
How the El Centro metro area compares with other metro areas for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 181,411
- +1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 49,644
- Median household income
- $57,681
- +21.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $309,600
- Jobs located here
- 63,081
- Highest market score
- 74
- Pet businesses, #31 of 387 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the El Centro metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the El Centro metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The El Centro metro area has an estimated 181,411 people and 49,644 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the El Centro metro area grew 1.1%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the El Centro metro area is $57,681, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 21.1%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the El Centro metro area runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (76).
Of the business types scored in the El Centro metro area, pet businesses (74), chiropractors (73) and dentists and orthodontists (72) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet businesses, that ranks #31 of 387 scored metro areas.
The El Centro metro area is made up of one county, Imperial County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for tire shops (twice the U.S. rate) and lowest for pet businesses (65% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the El Centro metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the El Centro metro area with other metro areas for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet businesses | 74 | #31 of 387 | 18 | 3.6 | $2.3M | 258 | 9 |
| Chiropractors | 73 | #32 of 386 | 10 | 2.0 | $5.5M | 231 | 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 72 | #34 of 387 | 31 | 6.2 | $1.8M | 182 | 28 |
| Hair salons | 71 | #26 of 387 | 75 | 15.1 | $573K | 133 | 8 |
| Spas and skin care | 70 | #35 of 387 | 23 | 4.6 | $1.9M | 213 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 70 | #49 of 386 | 11 | 2.2 | $3.7M | 146 | 5 |
| Funeral homes | 70 | #74 of 377 | 8 | 1.6 | $1M | 153 | 5 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 68 | #71 of 387 | 15 | 3.0 | $3.8M | 225 | 36 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 67 | #41 of 387 | 161 | 32.4 | $267K | 125 | 19 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 63 | #58 of 347 | 5 | 1.0 | $8.2M | 201 | 14 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 63 | #90 of 387 | 266 | 53.6 | $208K | 137 | 139 |
| House cleaning | 60 | #96 of 375 | 7 | 1.4 | $8.1M | 127 | 14 |
| Physical therapy | 60 | #119 of 386 | 21 | 4.2 | $2.6M | 110 | 9 |
| Nail salons | 59 | #106 of 387 | 19 | 3.8 | $2.3M | 135 | 5 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 58 | #107 of 387 | 125 | 25.2 | Index only | 116 | 26 |
| Home repair trades | 57 | #131 of 387 | 43 | 8.7 | $2.8M | 116 | 65 |
| Property management | 54 | #142 of 374 | 6 | 1.2 | Index only | 237 | 65 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 50 | #194 of 387 | 24 | 4.8 | $5M | 106 | 35 |
| Real estate | 47 | #209 of 387 | 163 | 32.8 | Index only | 112 | 102 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 45 | #177 of 290 | 5 | 1.0 | $10.3M | 75 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 45 | #240 of 387 | 23 | 4.6 | $2.2M | 89 | 9 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 44 | #255 of 387 | 80 | 16.1 | $511K | 77 | 18 |
| Pizza | 43 | #246 of 387 | 27 | 5.4 | $6.1M | 121 | 110 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 43 | #263 of 387 | 31 | 6.2 | $1.3M | 65 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 41 | #260 of 381 | 19 | 3.8 | $2.7M | 88 | 13 |
| Pest control | 38 | #256 of 345 | 6 | 1.2 | $9.4M | 92 | 6 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 37 | #298 of 373 | 28 | 5.6 | Index only | 72 | 7 |
| Gyms | 37 | #309 of 387 | 44 | 8.9 | $928K | 71 | 14 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 34 | #305 of 387 | 33 | 6.6 | $1.7M | 94 | 88 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 34 | #317 of 387 | 303 | 61.0 | $548K | 83 | 73 |
| Laundromats | 33 | #281 of 364 | 6 | 1.2 | $12.9M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 33 | #319 of 387 | 152 | 30.6 | $340K | 76 | 54 |
| Electricians | 33 | #332 of 383 | 15 | 3.0 | $8.1M | 67 | 23 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 31 | #330 of 386 | 27 | 5.4 | $2.1M | 65 | 7 |
| Auto repair and car care | 30 | #331 of 387 | 257 | 51.8 | $201K | 75 | 83 |
| Insurance agencies | 26 | #334 of 387 | 101 | 20.3 | $952K | 76 | 58 |
| Convenience stores | 25 | #350 of 387 | 66 | 13.3 | $4.1M | 52 | 10 |
| Tire shops | 24 | #346 of 386 | 38 | 7.7 | $1.4M | 54 | 14 |
| Gas stations | 24 | #349 of 387 | 81 | 16.3 | $1.7M | 70 | 63 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 24 | #360 of 387 | 529 | 106.6 | $314K | 85 | 225 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 24 | #367 of 387 | 49 | 9.9 | $3.4M | 91 | 42 |
| Child care and preschools | 22 | #370 of 387 | 54 | 10.9 | $467K | 47 | 48 |
| Barbershops | 21 | #368 of 387 | 37 | 7.5 | $1.2M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 18 | #367 of 387 | 86 | 17.3 | $1.9M | 63 | 110 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 18 | #381 of 387 | 53 | 10.7 | $3.1M | 76 | 42 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 14 | #381 of 387 | 155 | 31.2 | $1.8M | 52 | 39 |
| Grocery stores | 10 | #387 of 387 | 59 | 11.9 | $4.6M | 50 | 29 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 9 | #387 of 387 | 172 | 34.6 | $451K | 51 | 79 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 8 | #386 of 387 | 141 | 28.4 | $550K | 43 | 76 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.8 | Index only | 75 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.8 | $30.2M | 357 | 7 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.6 | $25.9M | 165 | 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.6 | $13.6M | 300 | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.4 | $28.3M | Too few | 16 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.4 | $20.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | $55.4M | Too few | 4 |
Household spending in the El Centro metro area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $51.7M | $1,041 | 109 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $135.7M | $2,734 | 105 |
| Food away from home | $166M | $3,344 | 82 |
| Groceries | $272.7M | $5,494 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $43M | $866 | 86 |
| Child care and other personal services | $25.2M | $508 | 88 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $40.8M | $823 | 84 |
| Medical and dental services | $55.4M | $1,115 | 87 |
| Pets | $40.7M | $821 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $77.6M | $1,563 | 76 |
| Vehicle insurance | $96.1M | $1,936 | 99 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $120.8M | $2,434 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $56.6M | $1,141 | 81 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $790.8M | $15,929 | 96 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the El Centro metro area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 181,411+1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 49,644
- Median age
- 33.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 57%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 4,176 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 43
- Median household income
- $57,681+21.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $79,363
- Median home value
- $309,600
- Jobs located here
- 63,081
- Daytime population
- 165,766Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the El Centro metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the El Centro metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the El Centro metro area 1
- Imperial County, CA180,202 people
Other markets based in California 12
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- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area4,675,704 people
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area4,645,029 people
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area3,288,774 people
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area2,426,388 people
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area1,969,337 people
- Fresno, CA metro area1,177,665 people
- Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area915,075 people
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro area837,469 people
- Stockton-Lodi, CA metro area797,334 people
- Modesto, CA metro area553,990 people
- Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area485,040 people
Questions
How fast is the El Centro, CA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the El Centro metro area at 181,411 people in 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 49,644 households. Median household income rose 21.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the El Centro, CA metro area spend?
Households in the El Centro metro area spend about $790.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $272.7M on groceries and $166M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the El Centro metro area spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (76).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the El Centro, CA metro area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the El Centro metro area are for pet businesses (74), chiropractors (73) and dentists and orthodontists (72). The El Centro metro area ranks #31 of 387 scored metro areas for pet businesses.
How does the El Centro, CA metro area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the El Centro metro area is $57,681 a year, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $309,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the El Centro metro area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for tire shops (twice the U.S. rate) and the fewest for pet businesses (65% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 49 of the 56 business types have a score in the El Centro metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the El Centro metro area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in California · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in the El Centro metro area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the El Centro metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.