Livability Score

72
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities A+

There are lots of amenities close to this location.
Coffee (8) F
State Street Coffeehouse
Coffee Shop
Willies Donuts
Coffee Shop
Donut Shop
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Donut Shop
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Starbucks
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (4) F
American Legion Post 25
Nightclub
Strikezone
Bowling Alley
Amigo Room
Nightclub
Cinemark Imperial Valley Mall 14
Cinema
Movies 10
Cinema
Imperial Valley Pioneer Museum
Museum
California Midwinter Fairgrounds
Attraction
Food and Drink (49) A-
Rubens
Fast Food
21 Flavors
Sweets
Fosters Freeze
Fast Food
El Centro Liquor Store
Alcohol
Juice Haus
Fast Food
Hamburger Stand
Fast Food
Cuchis
Fast Food
La Palmitas 2
Fast Food
Little Caesars
Fast Food
Burger King
Fast Food
Pizza Pizza
Fast Food
La Resaca
Bar
McDonald's
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Jack in the Box
Fast Food
Domino's
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Carl's Jr.
Fast Food
KFC
Fast Food
Church's Chicken
Fast Food
Carl's Jr.
Fast Food
Del Taco
Fast Food
Jack in the Box
Fast Food
Wendy's
Fast Food
Panda Express
Fast Food
Fitness (6) A+
Solo Fitness
Gym
Flx Fitness
Gym
Salvation Army
Community Centre
Planet Fitness
Gym
Groceries (12) B
Las Conchitas Backery
Bakery
Boatwright's Bakery and Catering
Bakery
Sol Market
Grocery Store
Kennedy's Karne
Butcher
Smart & Final
Grocery Store
Vons
Grocery Store
Lucky
Grocery Store
El Sol Market
Grocery Store
Cardenas
Grocery Store
ALDI
Grocery Store
Walmart Supercenter
Grocery Store
Food 4 Less
Grocery Store
Parks (36) A+
Bucklin Park
Park
Adams Park
Park
Adams Park
Park
Adams Park
Park
Desert Gardens Park
Park
McGee Park
Park
Swarthout Field
Park
Frazier Field
Park
Debbie J Pittman Park
Park
Debbie Pitman Park
Park
Gomez Park
Park
Farmers
Park
Carlos Aguilar Park
Park
Lotus Park
Park
Sunflower
Park
Sunflower
Park
Milton Leeper Park
Park
Sunflower
Park
Countryside
Park
Plank
Park
Legacy
Park
Estancia Park
Park
California Mid-Winter Fairgrounds
Park
Margarito "Tito" Huerta Jr.
Park
Evans Park
Park
Shops (70) A+
Circle K
Convenience Store
Super 99 Cents
Discount Store
Vannash Florist
Florist
Dollar Tree
Discount Store
Food Mart
Convenience Store
99 Cents Plus
Discount Store
Computer Repair & More
Electronics
Lovely Nails
Beauty
Super 99 Cents Store
Discount Store
Expo Furniture
Furniture
San Diego Nails
Beauty
7-Eleven
Convenience Store
Shell
Convenience Store
ampm
Convenience Store
ampm
Convenience Store
Euclid Market
Convenience Store
Crystal Nails
Beauty
Skechers
Shoes
Speedway
Convenience Store
7-Eleven
Convenience Store
El Centro Furniture & Matress
Furniture
Chevron
Convenience Store
Circle K
Convenience Store
Metro by T-Mobile
Electronics
Dollar General
Discount Store
See more El Centro amenity data

commute A+

Of all people who commute, 0.7% take public transportation in El Centro.
Public Transit Stops (6)
Stops & Stations A+
El Centro Regional Transfer Terminal
Bus Station
IV Transit
Bus Stop
Workers Taking Public Transit
0.7% F
See more El Centro commute data

cost of living B-

The cost of living in El Centro is 111/100 - which is 20% lower than California.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc. C+
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax F
See more El Centro cost of living data

crime C-

El Centro crime rates are 2,428 per 100k, which is 15% lower than California
Property Crime
2,085 crimes per 100k D+
Violent Crime
343 crimes per 100k C
See more El Centro crime data

employment D-

The median income in El Centro is $47,366 - which is 26% lower than California.
Med. Household Income
$47,366 F
Unemployment Rate
6.9% F
See more El Centro employment data

health C

There are many hospitals, police and fire stations.
Health & Safety (21)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc. A+
Fire Station No. 1
Fire Station
Methadone Clinic
Clinic
El Centro Outpatient Center
Hospital
El Centro Dental
Dentist
El Centro Health Department
Clinic
El Centro Police Department
Police
Planned Parenthood
Clinic
Farmacia Del Pueblo
Pharmacy
El Centro Regional Medical Center
Hospital
Rite Aid
Pharmacy
Walgreens
Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Clinica De Salud Del Pueblo
Clinic
Fire Station No. 2
Fire Station
Western Dental
Dentist
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Walmart Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Air Quality
Median Air Quality F
See more El Centro health & safety data

housing A+

El Centro home prices are $210,100 - which is 49% lower than California
Home Price
$210,100 B+
Home Appreciation Rate
22% A+
Home Affordability
4.4x (home price to income ratio) F
See more El Centro housing data

schools D+

The El Centro graduation rate is 66% - which is 18% lower than California
School Test Scores
36% F
High School Grad. Rates
66% F
Elementary Schools (21) A+
Harding Elementary
Lincoln Elementary
El Centro District Wide Preschool
Desert Garden Elementary
Ballington Academy For The Arts And Sciences
Ballington Academy For The Arts And Sciences
Washington Elementary
Margaret Hedrick Elementary
St Mary S School
Mckinley Elementary
De Anza Magnet
Valley Academy
Imagine Schools At Imperial Valley
Imperial Valley Home School Academy
Sunflower Elementary
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
Calvary Chapel Christian School Of El Centro
Imperial County Juvenile Hall/Community
Imperial County Special Education
T. L. Waggoner Elementary
Imperial Cross Elementary
Mccabe Elementary
Dogwood Elementary
High Schools (10) A+
Imperial Valley Rop
Central Union High
Desert Oasis High (Continuation)
Phoenix Rising High
Valley Academy
Southwest High
Calvary Chapel Christian School Of El Centro
Imperial County Juvenile Hall/Community
Imperial County Special Education
Imperial Pathways Charter
See more El Centro education data

ratings F

El Centro has an overall rating of 28% from 8 reviews.
User Reviews (2)
From AreaVibes F
User Surveys (6)
From AreaVibes F
See more El Centro user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings

El Centro, CA Area Guide

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Photo of El Centro, CA
( 8 Ratings )

Living in El Centro, CA

Ranks better than 72% of areas Follow

El Centro Area Facts

  • El Centro has a Livability Score of 72/100, which is considered excellent
  • El Centro crime rates are 15% lower than the California average
  • Cost of living in El Centro is 20% lower than the California average

What do the locals think about El Centro?

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El Centro Reviews

Write a review about El Centro Tell people what you like or don't like about El Centro…
AV0ID THIS TOWN 0.5 rating By Anonymous ( Oct 13, 2020) Very unAmerican and if you are not of Mexican descent they will treat you poorly. They love to discriminate here and act like they are the only ones in the country. They will deny your service and receiving services even if you are willing to pay. Many here refuse to speak Rng ...Read More lish. They really defile America. Read Less
El Centro of the Desert 1.5 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 22, 2015) I moved from El Centro, CA to San Diego three years ago and never looked back. This town is well named, because it is in the middle of the desert. We are closer to Arizona than the populated coasts of California. The biggest town near us is actually across the border, called Mexi ...Read More cali, Mexico. Like most people in El Centro I have family on both sides of the border. Many people live on one side and work on the other, which is neat in its own way. As a consequence though, many of us who live here and only have American citizenship find it difficult to find good work.

The first thing that one should know about El Centro is that it is hot! Temperatures regularly climb above 100 degrees in the summer months. There is not much for a young person in El Centro. Jobs here tend to be either seasonal agricultural work or for the government (there are a few prisons nearby, and an airfield). The past several years of drought have been particularly harsh for the overall economy. So many fields are dry now, which affects everything else in the economy.

If you're moving to El Centro, it will be very useful to have at least some knowledge of the Spanish language. Like I said before, most people around here have their roots just across the border in Mexico. Due to agriculture and migration the city population actually changes seasonally, but less people work there now. As much as I miss my family that remain there, I could not stay in El Centro. Read Less
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El Centro Awards

❰ ❱

Compare El Centro, CA Livability

      vs

      A+ Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in El Centro? Yes, there are lots of amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Bucklin Park
      Adams Park
      Adams Park
      Adams Park
      Desert Gardens Park
      McGee Park
      Swarthout Field
      Frazier Field

      Entertainment

      American Legion Post 25
      Strikezone
      Amigo Room
      Cinemark Imperial Valley Mall 14
      Movies 10
      Imperial Valley Pioneer Museum
      California Midwinter Fairgrounds

      Food & Drink

      Rubens
      21 Flavors
      Fosters Freeze
      El Centro Liquor Store
      Juice Haus
      Hamburger Stand
      Cuchis
      La Palmitas 2

      B- Commute

      Is public transit available in El Centro? Of all people who commute, 0.7% take public transportation in El Centro.
      Drive to Work
      80%

      3% higher than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      1%

      4% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      2%

      1% lower than the US average

      B- Cost of Living

      What is the cost of living in El Centro? The cost of living in El Centro is 111/100 - which is 20% lower than California.
      El Centro
      111

      11% more expensive than average

      California
      140

      40% more expensive than average

      United States
      100

      National cost of living index

      C- Crime

      What is the crime rate in El Centro? El Centro crime rates are 2,428, which are 15% lower than California
      Total Crime
      2,428 per 100k people

      4% higher than the US average

      Chance of being a victim
      1 in 42

      4% higher than the US average

      Year-over-year crime
      -7%

      Year over year crime is down

      D- Employment

      What is the median income in El Centro? The median income in El Centro is $47,366 which is 26% lower than California.
      Median household income
      $47,36614% lower than the US average
      Income per capita
      $19,06236% lower than the US average
      Unemployment rate
      7%

      48% higher than the US average

      A+ Health & Safety

      Is El Centro a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are many hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      El Centro Regional Medical Center
      El Centro Outpatient Center

      Pharmacies

      CVS Pharmacy
      Farmacia Del Pueblo
      Walmart Pharmacy
      Rite Aid
      Walgreens
      CVS Pharmacy

      Doctors

      A+ Housing

      What are El Centro home prices? El Centro home prices are $210,100 - which is 49% lower than California
      Median home value
      $210,10014% higher than the US average
      Median rent price
      $82113% lower than the US average
      Home Ownership
      50%

      22% lower than the US average

      D+ Schools

      Does El Centro have good schools? The El Centro graduation rate is 66% - which is 18% lower than California
      High school grad. rates
      66%

      21% lower than the US average

      School test scores
      36%

      26% lower than the US average

      Student teacher ratio
      22:1

      37% higher than the US average

      F User Ratings

      Is El Centro a good place to live? El Centro has an overall rating of 28% from 8 reviews.
      Overall user rating
      28%

      8 total ratings

      User reviews rating
      20%

      2 total reviews

      User surveys rating
      48%

      6 total surveys

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