El Centro, CA · Updated Oct 2026

What a El Centro house pays

Property tax, water, trash and energy from public rates. Look up your address to make it yours, and see how to pay less.

Sent only to free public map services to find who serves it. Not stored unless you save your house.

Example · a El Centro house

$10,407a year · $867 a month

Starts at the typical market value, $323,100; your assessed value is often lower. Typical use.

A El Centro house at the typical market value ($323,100) pays about $10,400 a year: $3,640 property tax and charges, $1,050 water and sewer, $310 trash, $3,910 electricity and gas, $1,490 home insurance. Estimated from public rates, not anyone's actual bill.

Rates checked Oct 22, 2026. Insurance: what you enter, or a typical premium until you do. Sources are listed at the bottom.

Ways to pay less

Nothing here applies to every house automatically. These are worth checking:

Income-qualified: IID 20% electric discount20% off the electric bill
Imperial Irrigation District's Residential Energy Assistance Designed for You program gives income-qualifying customers a 20 percent discount on their electric bill.
How: Complete a READY application and return it to IID; IID customer service: 1-760-339-9032.
Seniors 60+: IID READY 30% discount30% off the electric bill
IID offers a 30 percent READY discount to qualifying customers age 60 or older; participants 60 or older reapply every three years.
How: Complete a READY application and return it to IID; IID customer service: 1-760-339-9032.
Income-qualified: SoCalGas CARE20% off the gas bill
You may qualify for 20% off your monthly natural gas bill through SoCalGas's CARE program if you or someone in your household receives benefits such as Medi-Cal or CalFresh, or by household income.
How: Apply with SoCalGas's online CARE application.
Free e-waste pickup and curbside used oilFree
The City partners with CR&R and IVRMA to provide free electronic waste pickup and drop-off, and used oil may be collected curbside free of charge.
How: Schedule e-waste with IVRMA at 877-732-9253 or CR&R at 760-482-5656.

Adjust to match your bills

What you know

Value before exemptionsUnder Prop 13 your assessed value starts at your purchase price and can rise at most 2% a year, so it is often far below market: use the assessed value on your tax bill. Some parcels may carry direct charges or special taxes that vary by tract; check your bill.

I live here and have the Homeowners' exemption

Home insurance, a yearFrom your policy. We start at $1,492, NAIC data via the Insurance Information Institute; California figures from the California Department of Insurance.

Earthquake insurance, a yearSeparate from home insurance. Most owners don't have it.

Your use

Water, thousands of gallons a month

On your water bill. A typical house uses 5,000–8,000 gallons.

Electricity, kWh a month

On your Imperial Irrigation District (IID) bill. An electric car adds about 300 kWh.

Gas, therms a month (yearly average)

Money dates

Nov 30, 2026in 38 daysRegular assessment appeal filing period in Imperial County ends November 30, 2026 (began July 2, 2026).
Dec 10in 48 daysFirst property tax installment is due Nov 1 and becomes delinquent Dec 10; taxes not paid by the delinquent date get a 10% penalty.
Feb 15in 115 daysLast day for a first-time homeowners' exemption claim to get the full exemption for the year.
Apr 10Second property tax installment is due Feb 1 and becomes delinquent Apr 10; taxes not paid by the delinquent date get a 10% penalty.

Who serves this house

Water: City of El Centro; City of El Centro water system.
Property tax: 1.15% of value; 2025-26 tax year, Imperial County (tax rate area 006-019, El Centro Elementary, Central Union High and Imperial Community College bonds)
Garbage: CR&R Environmental Services (billed by the City); One each refuse, recycling and green waste cart, $25.56 a month.
Sewer: City of El Centro; Flat monthly charge for single-family homes.
Electricity: Imperial Irrigation District (IID); Schedule D residential service.
Gas: SoCalGas; Serves El Centro.

Pay or manage your bills

Your water

Source: Colorado River via the All American Canal and IID's Central Main Canal.
Standards: The City's report says it met every federal and state water quality standard.

Other CA cities

How these numbers are made

Property tax uses the 2025 Imperial County multi-year rate book for tax rate area 006-019: the 1% levy plus El Centro Elementary, Central Union High and Imperial Community College bond rates (total 1.153%); the 2026-27 book was not published yet. El Centro city has no ad valorem rate in these tax rate areas.
Starting value is the Census median market value; Prop 13 assessed values are often lower. Direct charges on individual tax bills were not published in the sources found and are not included.
Water is $3.56 a month for a 5/8 or 3/4 inch meter plus $3.75 per 1,000 gallons, the last column (July 1, 2016) of the City's current water rate schedule; the City began a rate update in 2026 that was not adopted as of this check.
Sewer is the flat $58.79 a month for single-family homes from the July 1, 2016 column; trash is $25.56 a month for the three-cart service.
Electricity is IID Schedule D ($11.40 plus 22.30¢ per kWh) with the 2.85% public benefits surcharge folded in; gas is SoCalGas's August 2026 average non-CARE bill at 35 therms with the $0.16 daily fixed charge.
Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.

Sources

Common questions about El Centro house costs

What is the property tax rate in El Centro?

About 1.15% of the value before exemptions a year (2025-26 tax year, Imperial County (tax rate area 006-019, El Centro Elementary, Central Union High and Imperial Community College bonds)), plus flat charges on the same bill.

How much is property tax on a $500,000 house in El Centro?

About $5,684 a year on $500,000 of the value before exemptions with the homeowners' exemption.

How much is the water bill in El Centro?

About $88 a month for water and sewer at typical use (7,000 gallons a month) on City of El Centro.

How much does trash pickup cost in El Centro?

$26 a month for a house.

When is property tax due in El Centro?

Dec 10: First property tax installment is due Nov 1 and becomes delinquent Dec 10; taxes not paid by the delinquent date get a 10% penalty. Apr 10: Second property tax installment is due Feb 1 and becomes delinquent Apr 10; taxes not paid by the delinquent date get a 10% penalty.

Can seniors lower their property tax or bills in El Centro?

Yes. Seniors 60+: IID READY 30% discount: IID offers a 30 percent READY discount to qualifying customers age 60 or older; participants 60 or older reapply every three years.

Where can I get help paying utility bills in El Centro?

Income-qualified: IID 20% electric discount: Imperial Irrigation District's Residential Energy Assistance Designed program gives income-qualifying customers a 20 percent discount on their electric bill. Complete a READY application and return it to IID; IID customer service: 1-760-339-9032.

How much does a house in El Centro cost to run each year?

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