HousingPermits

Metro area in California

El Centro, CA

The El Centro metro area authorized 242 new housing units in 2025. Recent building has not returned to boom levels: the 2021–2025 yearly average was 82% below the 2004–2006 average, the eighth-weakest recovery by this measure among the 387 US metro areas. The housing bust cut annual permits by 95%, from 2,203 at the 2004–2006 high to 102 in 2010, the ninth-deepest drop among the 387 US metro areas.

06001,2001,8002,4002004: 1,778 units (1,417 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 344 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,191 units (1,940 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 210 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,203 units (1,934 single-family, 31 in 2–4 unit, 238 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 969 units (648 single-family, 73 in 2–4 unit, 248 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 511 units (259 single-family, 13 in 2–4 unit, 239 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 196 units (184 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 6 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 102 units (102 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 257 units (129 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 128 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 287 units (211 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 72 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 303 units (297 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 6 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 246 units (185 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 54 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 293 units (112 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 174 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 215 units (213 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 191 units (179 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 400 units (274 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 124 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 398 units (266 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 132 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 480 units (315 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 161 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 555 units (425 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 108 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 551 units (379 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 168 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 263 units (184 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 69 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 253 units (153 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 92 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 242 units (224 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)200420072010201320162019202220252006 high · 2,20308001,6002,4002004: 1,778 units (1,417 single-family, 17 in 2–4 unit, 344 in 5+ unit buildings)2005: 2,191 units (1,940 single-family, 41 in 2–4 unit, 210 in 5+ unit buildings)2006: 2,203 units (1,934 single-family, 31 in 2–4 unit, 238 in 5+ unit buildings)2007: 969 units (648 single-family, 73 in 2–4 unit, 248 in 5+ unit buildings)2008: 511 units (259 single-family, 13 in 2–4 unit, 239 in 5+ unit buildings)2009: 196 units (184 single-family, 6 in 2–4 unit, 6 in 5+ unit buildings)2010: 102 units (102 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2011: 257 units (129 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 128 in 5+ unit buildings)2012: 287 units (211 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 72 in 5+ unit buildings)2013: 303 units (297 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 6 in 5+ unit buildings)2014: 246 units (185 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 54 in 5+ unit buildings)2015: 293 units (112 single-family, 7 in 2–4 unit, 174 in 5+ unit buildings)2016: 215 units (213 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2017: 191 units (179 single-family, 12 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2018: 400 units (274 single-family, 2 in 2–4 unit, 124 in 5+ unit buildings)2019: 398 units (266 single-family, 0 in 2–4 unit, 132 in 5+ unit buildings)2020: 480 units (315 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 161 in 5+ unit buildings)2021: 555 units (425 single-family, 22 in 2–4 unit, 108 in 5+ unit buildings)2022: 551 units (379 single-family, 4 in 2–4 unit, 168 in 5+ unit buildings)2023: 263 units (184 single-family, 10 in 2–4 unit, 69 in 5+ unit buildings)2024: 253 units (153 single-family, 8 in 2–4 unit, 92 in 5+ unit buildings)2025: 242 units (224 single-family, 18 in 2–4 unit, 0 in 5+ unit buildings)2004200820122016202020252006 high · 2,203

Single-family2–4 units5+ units

Its 2025 total was only 11% of the 2006 high of 2,203 units, the tenth-furthest below a series peak among the 387 US metro areas.

Boom, bust and since

Its peak year is shared by 30 other metro areas, among them Jackson, TN, Pueblo, Houma.

Relative to population

With 181,411 residents in July 2025, El Centro authorized 2.1 units per 1,000 residents a year in 2021–2025, under the national 4.7. The metro areas with the nearest rates are Amherst Town (2.1) and Minot (2.0).

Busiest permit offices

Across the metro area, 7 permit offices authorized new housing in 2021–2025. The busiest was Brawley, with 593 units or 32% of the total, followed by Calexico with 507. Among the three largest, Calexico put 35% of its units in five-plus buildings, Imperial 0%.

  • Brawley32% (593 units)
  • Calexico27% (507 units)
  • Imperial19% (362 units)
  • El Centro13% (244 units)
  • Imperial County (unincorporated)7.3% (136 units)
  • Westmorland1.1% (21 units)
  • Holtville0.1% (1 unit)

Share of the units authorized in the metro area, 2021–2025.

Houses or apartments

In El Centro, 73% of the units authorized in 2021–2025 were single-family houses and 23% were in buildings of five or more units, against 34% nationally. The closest match in building mix among the 386 other metro areas is Casper (23% in five-plus buildings). That share has risen sharply since 2004–2006, when it stood at 13%.

2021–202573.2%73%3.3%23.4%23%2004–200685.7%86%1.4%12.8%13%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%2021–202573.2%73%3.3%23.4%23%2004–200685.7%86%1.4%12.8%US, 2021–202562.6%63%3.5%34.0%34%

Similar in size

Metro area2004–20252025 unitsPer 1,000 a year5+ share
Greenville, NC1,2856.920%
Iowa City, IA1,2666.547%
Redding, CA2541.63.7%
Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA4922.78.7%
El Centro, CA2422.123%

Rates and shares: 2021–2025.

Put El Centro beside Blacksburg

Every yearly figure behind the chart, split by building size: yearly-units.csv. State view: California. Counting rules.