Yuma receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Yuma
El Centro
Opportunity
16 · Bottom 1%
vs25 · Bottom 5%
Growth
69 · Top 19%
vs45 · Bottom 42%
Climate
60 · Bottom 24%
vs57 · Bottom 18%
Physical resilience
20 · Bottom 9%
vs8 · Bottom 2%
Housing affordability
93 · Bottom 44%
vs66 · Bottom 10%
Access
33 · Bottom 4%
vs62 · Bottom 24%
Economic stability
23 · Bottom 13%
vs17 · Bottom 7%
Measured values
| Metric | Yuma | El Centro | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 211,741 | 180,202 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,876 | $57,681 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $30,204 | $23,552 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 38/sq mi | 43/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $217,800 | $309,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $993 | $1,056 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.0% | 56.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 16.5% | 17.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -4.0% | -1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 16.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.6% | 19.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,215 | 208 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 3.1% | -2.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 106°F | 108°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 42°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 4.0" | 2.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 100 mi | 62 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 23.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.1 | 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
Yuma
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, heat wave.
El Centro
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Yuma, AZ Metro Area · El Centro, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology