El Centro, CA vs Oakland, 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
Oakland
62
#1880 nationally
Oakland leads in median household income ($85,459 vs $54,922). El Centro leads in average commute (21.6 min vs 32.1 min). Oakland leads in walk score (73 vs 51).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | El Centro, CA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 70 (#1141) | 62 (#1880) |
| Population | 43,772 | 433,823 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $396,150 | $717,798 |
| Median Household Income | $54,922 | $85,459 |
| Average Commute | 21.6 min | 32.1 min |
| Walk Score | 51 | 73 |
| Crime Level | 9.0 | High |
| School Rating | N/A | 4.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 111 | 155 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | D+53.6 |
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 Score
Oakland, CA
Gritty, diverse, and full of culture
Median Home
$717,798
Population
433,823
Crime
High
Schools
C
Pacific
View Oakland, CA →