Real Estate Investing in Calexico, California (92231)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Imperial County • Population: 38,547 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 92231 (Calexico, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • Higher unemployment: 9.8% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

What’s happening in Calexico, CA (92231)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $398,433
Avg Monthly Rent $1,700
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,750
% Renters 49.3%

Market Analysis: 92231 Calexico

This part of Imperial County is not an easy win. The 92231 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $398K asset, 92231 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within CA, ZIP 92231 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Imperial County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

Looking more closely, 38,547 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Calexico:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,700/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
El Centro, CA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.3%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from El Centro, CA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$421K$357K$292K$228K$164K$100KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 92231 Compare?

Metric 92231 Calexico El Centro, CA California
Home Value $398,433 $398,433 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 6.9% 6.9% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,700 $1,700 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 92231? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 49% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 92231 (Calexico, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.9%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on El Centro, CA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
41%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $398,433
Monthly Rent $1,700
Price-to-Rent 19.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 10.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
17.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 92231

Population: 38,547

💰 Median Household Income
$51,750
This area
$51,750
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
49.3%
This area
49.3%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
9.8%
This area
9.8%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.3%
This area
20.3%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.8 years
This area
32.8 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.5%
This area
17.5%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 56.7%
Hispanic/Latino 55.7%
White 41.6%
Asian 1.5%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
28.8%
This area
28.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.7%
This area
15.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 92231

B+ Avg School Grade
12 Schools
22.3:1 Avg Class Size
$21,017 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Aurora High (Continuation)

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
177 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pinnacle Hall Community Day

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
11 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Blanche Charles Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
413 Students
👨‍🏫
23.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Dool Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
600 Students
👨‍🏫
25.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Enrique Camarena Jr. High

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
684 Students
👨‍🏫
22.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Jefferson Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
632 Students
👨‍🏫
25.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kennedy Gardens Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
529 Students
👨‍🏫
25.2:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mains Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
425 Students
👨‍🏫
23.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Rockwood Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
588 Students
👨‍🏫
24.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
B+ Above Average

William Moreno Junior High

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
622 Students
👨‍🏫
22.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
B Good

Cesar Chavez Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
747 Students
👨‍🏫
26.2:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
C+ Average

Calexico High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,718 Students
👨‍🏫
23.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,017 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 1,938 Off-Campus Students
C+
CET-El Centro
167 students · 7.2 mi
C+
Imperial Valley College
8,111 students · 10.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,938 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rental occupancy rate in Calexico, CA?

Calexico, CA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $1,700/mo.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Calexico, CA?

Tenant quality in Calexico, CA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report steady occupancy at market rents of $1,700/mo.

What kind of market is Calexico, CA for investors?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Calexico, CA reflects its $398K prices and $1,700/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within CA.

Where do home prices stand in Calexico, CA?

In Calexico, CA the median home value sits at $398K. Against the broader CA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Are rents high in Calexico, CA?

Investors in Calexico, CA typically see rents near $1,700/mo per month against $398K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

You know 92231 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 92231 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 92231 ranks in El Centro, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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