As of September 2026, the typical home in the El Centro metro costs $382,009 and typical rent is $1,803/month — a price-to-rent ratio of 18 and a gross rental yield of 5.7%. El Centro scores 43/100 on the Star Score index, ranking #147 of 174 tracked US rental markets.
The El Centro metro posts a price-to-rent ratio of 18 on a typical home value of $382,009 and typical rent of $1,803/month — a gross rental yield of 5.7% before expenses. Factor scores below show how it stacks up on landlord law, taxes, growth and risk.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Typical home value (ZHVI) | $382,009 |
| Typical rent (ZORI) | $1,803/mo |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 18 |
| Gross rental yield | 5.7% |
| Star Score | 43/100 ★★☆☆☆ |
| Rank among tracked markets | #147 of 174 |
More context: Living in El Centro — economy, industries & affordability
See how it stacks up in the full rankings — head-to-head pages cover the top 15 markets.
Active listings our scanner flagged for under-market signals — price cuts, long days on market, below-comp pricing. Leads to underwrite, not appraisals; verify everything locally.
Run one through the BRRRR calculator. Rent figures are modeled from metro data, not appraisals.
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Assumable-mortgage pocket: 13.6% of CA's 2019-21 mortgage originations were government-backed (FHA/VA/USDA) — assumable by law, mostly at ~3% rates. VA loans can be assumed by non-veterans, including for investment purchases. The Assumability Index →
National rule-of-thumb renovation costs (2026, per square foot) applied to a typical ~1,400 sq ft single-family in this market — every house differs, so treat these as planning ranges, not bids:
| Scope | $/sq ft | Typical house |
|---|---|---|
| Paint & refresh (cosmetic light) | $15–25 | $21K–35K |
| Cosmetic full (floors, kitchen refresh, baths) | $25–45 | $35K–63K |
| Full renovation (systems + finishes) | $45–75 | $63K–105K |
| Gut / structural | $75–120 | $105K–168K |
Run your own numbers for El Centro in the BRRRR & rehab calculator. Run a rehab crew in El Centro? Founding crews list free →
El Centro scores 43/100 on the Star Score index (#147 of 174 tracked markets), with a gross rental yield of 5.7% at September 2026 prices. It suits investors prioritizing cash flow over appreciation.
18 — the typical home value ($382,009) divided by a year of typical rent ($1,803/month × 12). Ratios under about 15 generally favor buying and landlording.
With a typical home at $382,009 and rent of $1,803/month (5.7% gross yield), El Centro can work for BRRRR in select submarkets, but higher prices or thinner yields mean deals need bigger discounts to snowball.
Typical asking rent in the El Centro metro is $1,803 per month as of September 2026, per Zillow's Observed Rent Index.