El Centro, CA vs Monterey, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
El Centro
70
#1141 nationally
Monterey
62.7
#1834 nationally
Monterey leads in median household income ($98,003 vs $54,922). El Centro leads in cost of living index (111 vs 192). El Centro leads in crime level (9.0 vs 10.5).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | El Centro, CA | Monterey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70 (#1141) | 62.7 (#1834) |
| Population | 43,772 | 29,116 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $396,150 | $1,179,065 |
| Median Household Income | $54,922 | $98,003 |
| Average Commute | 21.6 min | 19.1 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 53 |
| Crime Level | 9.0 | 10.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 111 | 192 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | D+29.9 |
C-
70 Score
El Centro, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$396,150
Population
43,772
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
51
Pacific
View El Centro, CA →
D-
62.7 Score
Monterey, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,179,065
Population
29,116
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
53
Pacific
View Monterey, CA →