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Desert Center, CA
Full City Profile · California · Imperial County County
2.9
/5.0
C+
Fair
167
Population
5/sq mi density
$72,857
Median Income
$25,685 per capita
$221,200
Home Value
$258,145 Zillow
$1,192
Median Rent
22.1% income on rent
74°F
Avg Temperature
330 sunny days/yr
353
Violent Crime/100K
177 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.4 / 5.0
$72,857 median income, 5.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$221,200 home value, $1,192/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
353 violent crimes/100K
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
15.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Desert Center has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 74°F (23°C). Winters average 55°F in January while summers reach 94°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 3.7 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.
Temperature
55°F Jan (13°C)
94°F Jul (34°C)
| Annual Average | 73.6°F |
| 36% above US avg | |
| January Average | 55°F (13°C) |
| July Average | 94°F (34°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 650 ft (198 m) |
| Area | 30.4 sq mi (78.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 5/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 33.7378°N, 115.3666°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Imperial County County |
| Nearest Airport | Jacqueline Cochran Regional (TRM) 46 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0502 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 13.9 ppb |
| SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide) | 0.52 ppb |
| CO (Carbon Monoxide) | 0.25 ppm |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 9.1 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 96.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 85.2 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 2.4 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Hurricane | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively High |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | No Rating |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Volcano | Relatively Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Salton Buttes (64 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Salton Buttes | Lava dome(s) | -40 m (-131 ft) | 210 | 64 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 55°F (13°C) | 0.4 in | |
| February | 59°F (15°C) | 0.4 in | |
| March | 63°F (17°C) | 0.4 in | |
| April | 70°F (21°C) | 0.1 in | |
| May | 79°F (26°C) | 0.0 in | Driest |
| June | 88°F (31°C) | 0.0 in | |
| July | 94°F (34°C) | 0.4 in | Warmest |
| August | 92°F (33°C) | 0.6 in | Wettest |
| September | 86°F (30°C) | 0.4 in | |
| October | 74°F (23°C) | 0.3 in | |
| November | 62°F (17°C) | 0.3 in | |
| December | 54°F (12°C) | 0.4 in | Coldest |
Desert Center has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 54°F in December to 94°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 3.6 inches, with August being the wettest month (0.6") and May the driest (0.0").