How many renters in El Centro, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in El Centro, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

54.0% (±5.9 points) of renting households in El Centro, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

44.8% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 32.2% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 54.0% (±5.9 points)
Paying 35% or more: 44.8% (±5.0 points)
Median share of income: 32.2% (±2.9 points)

Rent as a share of income in El Centro

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	El Centro	Imperial County	California	United States
Less than 15%	10.2% (±2.7 points)	13.1%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	10.7% (±3.5 points)	9.3%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	13.6% (±4.0 points)	12.1%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	11.5% (±3.8 points)	12.4%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	9.2% (±3.2 points)	9.5%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	44.8% (±5.0 points)	43.5%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

El Centro against Imperial County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	El Centro	Imperial County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	54.0% (±5.9 points)	53.0% (±3.6 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	44.8% (±5.0 points)	43.5% (±3.0 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	32.2% (±2.9 points)	31.6% (±1.6 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$40,766 (±$3,736)	$38,992 (±$2,428)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,052 (±$63)	$1,056 (±$30)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In El Centro, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Imperial County (53.0%).

It is not measurably different from California (55.3%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Imperial County, El Centro ranks 6 of 11 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 578 of 1,067.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near El Centro

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with El Centro
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
El Centro	—	54.0% (±5.9 points)	—
Imperial	3.7 mi	44.5% (±13.9 points)	Not measurably different
Heber	4.1 mi	44.9% (±21.0 points)	Not measurably different
Seeley	7.3 mi	27.0% (±35.4 points)	Not measurably different
Calexico	8.0 mi	59.7% (±9.1 points)	Not measurably different
Holtville	11 mi	46.6% (±19.2 points)	Not measurably different
Brawley	13 mi	48.9% (±8.7 points)	Not measurably different
Westmorland	18 mi	57.4% (±21.1 points)	Not measurably different
Calipatria	27 mi	55.4% (±30.1 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Imperial County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Niland	100.0% (±35.8 points)
2	Calexico	59.7% (±9.1 points)
3	Westmorland	57.4% (±21.1 points)
4	Salton City	56.5% (±31.9 points)
5	Calipatria	55.4% (±30.1 points)
6	El Centro	54.0% (±5.9 points)
7	Brawley	48.9% (±8.7 points)
8	Holtville	46.6% (±19.2 points)
9	Heber	44.9% (±21.0 points)
10	Imperial	44.5% (±13.9 points)
11	Seeley	27.0% (±35.4 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about El Centro

Are renters in El Centro rent-burdened?

54.0% of renting households in El Centro pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in El Centro spend on rent?

The median renting household in El Centro, CA spends 32.2% (±2.9 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for El Centro city, California (place:21782, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.