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Living in
Calexico.
About
Life in Calexico
If you're considering Calexico, you're looking at a hardworking border city that's fundamentally shaped by cross-border trade and family-oriented living. The cost of living is genuinely affordable—housing around $313,600 median and rent at $1,093 monthly—which is the main draw for people weighing their options. That said, you need to go in with eyes open about the climate: summers are relentless, with most days hitting 100°F or higher and very little rain.
Calexico at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
19.7%
Foreign-Born
47.0%
Broadband Internet
90.5%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics47.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Calexico: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Calexico, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (95.6%), and 92.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.2%
of residents
65 and Older
16.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
42.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
20.3%
of households
Married Couples
49.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.82
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 46% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Calexico
In Calexico, rent runs 46% below the CA average, and home values are 57% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
95.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,672
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
50.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1993
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $395,359 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 24.5 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Calexico
Unemployment in Calexico is 24.5 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Calexico Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute25.8 min avg
How Calexico residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Calexico, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 12 mi
Imperial County Airport (IPL)
Regional airport · few flights3,309 passengers boarded in 2025
- 98 mi
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Major hub12.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 37% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Calexico runs 37% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
208.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
837.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Calexico Police Department
Natural DisastersExcessive Heat most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Imperial County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Imperial County, which includes Calexico, the most common type is excessive heat, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Flash Flood | $4.7M |
| 2024 | 9 | Excessive Heat | $4.1M |
| 2023 | 22 | High Wind | $30.3M |
| 2022 | 29 | Flash Flood | $589,500 |
| 2021 | 20 | Excessive Heat | $2.2M |
| 2020 | 16 | Excessive Heat | $64,000 |
| 2019 | 16 | Excessive Heat | $56,000 |
| 2018 | 10 | Excessive Heat | $22,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
217 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Imperial County, county-wide
Air Quality64 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Imperial County, which includes Calexico, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
64
Good Days
101
per year
Moderate Days
220
per year
Unhealthy Days
10
per year
Imperial County, county-wide
Climate106°F summers, 44°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Calexico has hot summers (avg high 106°F) and mild winters (avg low 44°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
87°/57°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
106°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
91°/62°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
72°/44°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
2.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
180
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
1
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
11
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 43°F | 0.39" |
| Feb | 74°F | 47°F | 0.43" |
| Mar | 80°F | 52°F | 0.29" |
| Apr | 86°F | 57°F | 0.07" |
| May | 94°F | 63°F | 0.04" |
| Jun | 103°F | 71°F | 0.00" |
| Jul | 107°F | 78°F | 0.08" |
| Aug | 107°F | 79°F | 0.23" |
| Sep | 102°F | 73°F | 0.25" |
| Oct | 92°F | 62°F | 0.21" |
| Nov | 79°F | 51°F | 0.17" |
| Dec | 70°F | 43°F | 0.37" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Calexico
Uninsured
6.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Calexico's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
El Centro Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.9 mi away · El Centro
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education23.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Calexico
Calexico's student/teacher ratio is 23.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 18.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Joshua Tree National Park, 87 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Calexico
Calexico has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Joshua Tree National Park (87 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Joshua Tree National Park
National Park
87 mi awayPublic Libraries in Calexico
Camarena Memorial Public Library
850 Encinas Avenue, Calexico
Carnegie Technology Center Branch
420 Heber Ave., Calexico
Cities Near Calexico
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Calexico?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Calexico FAQ
Is Calexico, California affordable?⌄
Calexico's median rent is $1,093/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,783/year. Median home value is $313,600.
Is Calexico, California safe?⌄
Calexico's violent crime rate was 209 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 838 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Calexico, California?⌄
Calexico has an unemployment rate of 30.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Calexico, California?⌄
The cost of living in Calexico is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,093/month and median household income is $49,783/year. The median home value is $313,600. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Calexico, California?⌄
The average commute in Calexico is 26 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from