Metro area index
Home appreciation in the El Centro, CA metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the El Centro, CA metro area's all-transactions index changed +3.8% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +0.9% for California and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 170th of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +3.8%
- 5-year change
- +47.0%
- Since Q1 1995
- +273%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 170th
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
El Centro, CA vs California and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- El Centro, CA: 372.5
- California: 488.5
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | CA | U.S. | Gap vs CA | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.8% | +0.9% | +3.0% | +2.9 pts | +0.8 pts |
| 3 years | +20.3% | +7.7% | +12.9% | +12.6 pts | +7.4 pts |
| 5 years | +47.0% | +28.1% | +41.3% | +18.8 pts | +5.7 pts |
| 10 years | +104% | +76.2% | +93.3% | +28.1 pts | +10.9 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +273% | +388% | +292% | −116.0 pts | −19.0 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the El Centro, CA area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 922 · Indio, CA area | CA | -0.5% | +37.1% | +383% | 23% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in El Centro, CA area
El Centro, CA area's index peaked in Q1 2007, fell 51.5% to its low in Q2 2010, and regained its peak in Q3 2021, about 14.5 years after the top. Today it sits +46.7% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q1 2007 | Q2 2010 | -51.5% | Q3 2021 (14.5 yrs) | +46.7% |
| CA | Q3 2006 | Q1 2012 | -41.0% | Q2 2019 (12.8 yrs) | +50.9% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, El Centro, CA area's index has changed +68.3% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | CA after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -0.1% | -2.9% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +9.6% | -1.9% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +18.5% | +3.3% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +46.8% | +26.7% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +68.3% | +121% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the El Centro, CA area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +275% | $1,126,035 |
| Q2 2000 | +228% | $984,921 |
| Q2 2005 | +74.9% | $524,666 |
| Q2 2010 | +203% | $908,167 |
| Q2 2015 | +118% | $653,179 |
| Q2 2020 | +65.8% | $497,547 |
| Q2 2021 | +46.9% | $440,847 |
| Q2 2023 | +20.3% | $360,897 |
| Q2 2025 | +3.8% | $311,367 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the El Centro, CA area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the El Centro, CA metro area shows changes of +3.8% over one year, +47.0% over five years, and +104% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +273% since Q1 1995.
- Is the El Centro, CA area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved +0.8 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is +5.7 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.