Grants Pass receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Grants Pass
El Centro
Opportunity
31 · Bottom 7%
vs25 · Bottom 5%
Growth
42 · Bottom 38%
vs45 · Bottom 42%
Climate
69 · Top 42%
vs57 · Bottom 18%
Physical resilience
14 · Bottom 5%
vs8 · Bottom 2%
Housing affordability
54 · Bottom 3%
vs66 · Bottom 10%
Access
74 · Bottom 46%
vs62 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
37 · Bottom 31%
vs17 · Bottom 7%
Measured values
| Metric | Grants Pass | El Centro | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 88,179 | 180,202 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $60,098 | $57,681 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,179 | $23,552 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 54/sq mi | 43/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $404,300 | $309,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,194 | $1,056 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.7% | 56.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 7.4% | 17.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.0% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 16.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | 19.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 229 | 208 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.6 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -8.8% | -2.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 77°F | 108°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 33°F | 42°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.7" | 2.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 36 mi | 62 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 23.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 47.3 | 33.2 | 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
Grants Pass
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake, inland flooding.
El Centro
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Grants Pass
46
Your Score
41
Area Score
El Centro
40
Your Score
37
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Grants Pass, OR Metro Area · El Centro, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology