Relocation profile · Federal data
El Centro, CA
LiveAbility 35.8/100 places El Centro #350 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
- 95.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,362
- 2BR rent / mo
- $71,194
- Median salary
- 35.8
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, El Centro ranks #350 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (35.8/100), with its strongest marks in job market and climate.
- #350
- of 387 US metros · Below median
- 39,431,263
- metro-area population
- 477
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 10,006
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: air quality (3/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), El Centro ranks #350 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 95.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,362/mo, median salary $71,194; LiveAbility Score 35.8/100, strongest in job market and climate.
Signature: LiveAbility 35.8/100 places El Centro #350 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 95.2 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,362/mo.
LiveAbility 35.8/100 puts El Centro in the bottom third (#350 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the El Centro area is 57,840.
El Centro vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
36 Top 90% higher than 10% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
El Centro housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the El Centro MSA; housing RPP 66.3 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,362/mo.
El Centro wages and employment
El Centro posts 57,840 total employment with median salary $71,194.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 |
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $35,140 |
| Cashiers | $35,090 |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,490 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $38,840 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the El Centro area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the El Centro area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
El Centro's composite Life Score is 51.5/100 (D), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →El Centro ranks #350 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 35.8/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
El Centro - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Job market
Job market
87 /100
- Climate
Climate
60 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
42 /100
- Housing
Housing
42 /100
- Safety 13
Safety
13 /100
- Low hazard 12
Low hazard
12 /100
- Schools 8
Schools
8 /100
- Air quality 3
Air quality
3 /100
What this shows El Centro's strongest dimensions are job market and climate; its weakest among scored dims is air quality at 3/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare El Centro to
Metros near El Centro on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to El Centro on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
El Centro cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; El Centro wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about El Centro?
El Centro runs a $71,194 median salary at a 95.2 cost index, ranking #350 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what El Centro's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put El Centro head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare El Centro
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.