$119,600/yr
is the income needed to buy the typical $382,009 home in El Centro, CA at today's 7.18% rate — about $2,791/mo. The local median household ($56,393) falls $63,207 short.
The math (shown)
382,009 price − 10% down (38,201) = 343,808 loan
30-yr fixed at 7.18% on 343,808 = 2,329/mo principal+interest
+ 462/mo est. taxes+insurance (1.45%/yr of value — national placeholder)
2,791/mo PITI ÷ 0.28 = 9,967/mo → 119,600/yr required
against Zillow ZHVI 2026-09 (Zillow ZHVI (typical home value, smoothed, all-homes 33–67pct tier)) and the 7.18% FRED 30-yr rate (2026-11-05). Local median income: $56,393 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year, median household income (table B19013)).
Can I afford El Centro, CA on my salary?
Your salary:
Rent vs own here
Honest null: HUD FMR needs a free huduser.gov token (env.HUD_TOKEN). Honest-null until set. (HUD FMR needs a free token; not wired here.)
FAQ
How much do I need to make to live in El Centro, CA?
To buy the typical home, about $119,600/yr. Renting needs less; this page sizes the buy.
What home value is this based on?
Zillow's ZHVI typical-home-value for the El Centro, CA metro (2026-09): $382,009.
Is the mortgage rate current?
Yes — 7.18% from FRED's weekly 30-year fixed average (2026-11-05).
Glossary
ZHVI
Zillow Home Value Index — the typical home value for a region (35th–65th percentile, smoothed, seasonally adjusted).
Front-end DTI
Housing payment as a share of gross income; lenders commonly cap it near 28%.
PITI
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the full monthly housing cost.