Sierra Vista-Douglas receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
El Centro
Sierra Vista-Douglas
Opportunity
25 · Bottom 5%
vs17 · Bottom 1%
Growth
45 · Bottom 42%
vs41 · Bottom 35%
Climate
57 · Bottom 18%
vs70 · Top 40%
Physical resilience
8 · Bottom 2%
vs18 · Bottom 7%
Housing affordability
66 · Bottom 10%
vs88 · Bottom 32%
Access
62 · Bottom 24%
vs52 · Bottom 14%
Economic stability
17 · Bottom 7%
vs24 · Bottom 14%
Measured values
| Metric | El Centro | Sierra Vista-Douglas | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 180,202 | 125,566 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $57,681 | $59,742 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $23,552 | $33,002 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 43/sq mi | 20/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $309,600 | $218,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,056 | $995 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 56.8% | 71.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 17.6% | 6.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.1% | -6.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 28.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.5% | 15.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 208 | 406 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.2 | 3.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -2.8% | -1.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 108°F | 94°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 2.4" | 11.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 62 mi | 71 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 33.2 | 43.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
El Centro
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Sierra Vista-Douglas
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
El Centro
40
Your Score
37
Area Score
Sierra Vista-Douglas
44
Your Score
41
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: El Centro, CA Metro Area · Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology