The City of El Centro was named one of the "hottest cities for entrepreneurs" by Inc. Magazine (May 2006). The only California city in the group of the Top 20 category boasts a 1-year job growth of 7.3% and 5-year job growth of 14.5%.

Current Population (As of January 1, 2006):

42,002

Currently
HOUSING
DEMOGRAPHICS AT A GLANCE
Single Detached 7,601
Single Attached 563
Multiple 2-4 1,102
Multiple 5+ 3,205
Mobile Homes 1,318
Occupied 12,866
Total 13,789
Percent Vacant 6.69%
Persons per Household 3.196
  • Median Age: 30
  • Median Household Income (MHI): $37,759
  • State of CA (MHI): $51,917
  • CA Median Price of Home (6/2006): $575,800
  • El Centro Median Price of House: $255,000
El Centro TOP 15 Business types
Discount Department Stores $495.0
Department Stores 286.6
Lumber/Building Materials 230.8
New/Motor Vehicle Dealers 223.2
Service Stations 112.3
Restaurants No Alcohol 103.6
Family Apparel 88.5
Petroleum Products Conf
Automotive Supply Stores 49.2
Grocery Stores Beer/Wine 44.9
Heavy Industrial 42.7
Restaurants Beer and Wine 41.5
Grocery Stores Liquor 38.3
Specialty Stores 36.8
Office Supplies/Furniture 36.5
Total All Accounts $2,372.3
Gross Receipts $2,657.9
Labor: Wage and Salary Employment
  • Unemployment: 13.4% (SEE CHART)
  • CA Unemployment: 4.9%
  • U.S. Unemployemt: 4.7%
Imperial County
  • Total Wage and Salary: 55,500
  • Total Non-Farm: 44,700
  • Service Providing: 39,900
  • Total Private: 27,300
  • Residual-Private Services: 22,500
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
  • El Centro: 18,100
  • Imperial County: 61,800
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
  • Albertsons
  • Burgers and Beer
  • City of El Centro
  • Costco
  • County of Imperial
  • Dilliards
  • El Centro Regional Medical Center
  • El Centro Elementary School District
  • Food 4 Less
  • Central Union High School
  • Home Depot
  • Homeland Security
  • Imperial Irrigation District
  • Imperial Valley College
  • Jack in the Box
  • JC Penney
  • Kmart
  • Lowe's
  • Lucky Foods
  • Macy's
  • McDonalds
  • Mervyn's
  • Rabobank
  • Sears
  • Sun Community FCU
  • Target
  • Time Warner Cable
  • United Parcel Service
  • Valley Convalescent
  • Vons
  • Wal-Mart

SEE EMPLOYMENT CHART