Residential comparison · 13 facts
El Centro, CA vs La Mesa, CA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in El Centro needs about $101,500 in La Mesa to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from La Mesa, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $69,000 in El Centro.
A few differences
- La Mesa is higher on median household income ($95,028 vs $53,082).
- El Centro is lower on cost of living index (101 vs 144).
- El Centro is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,086/mo vs $2,217/mo).
El Centro vs La Mesa · facet by facet
| Facet | El Centro, CA | La Mesa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $323,100 | $812,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,086/mo | $2,217/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 2.09% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Cost of living index | 101 | 144 |
| Groceries index | 112 | 112 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $53,082 | $95,028 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 260 days | 260 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: El Centro, CA · La Mesa, CA
Questions & answers
- Is El Centro cheaper than La Mesa?
- El Centro has the lower day-to-day cost index (101 vs 144 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in La Mesa equals $85,000 in El Centro?
- A household earning $85,000 in El Centro needs about $101,500 in La Mesa to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of La Mesa lifestyle costs about $69,000 in El Centro.