Arroyobaxter, 1980
El Cerrito’s story
120 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,505 in 1920, 25,962 in 2020. The archive holds 18 old photos and papers going back to 1980 and 8 maps from 1895 on.
- 1906El Cerrito is founded
Population
26,121
2025 Census estimate · +0.5% since 2020
Typical home
$1.12M
+3.4% in a year
Household income
$128K
median
Median age
41.8
years
Jobs based here
5,538
A commuter town
TownGrade
C
#434 of 841 in CA
Is El Cerrito a good place to live?
El Cerrito's standout: it is among the most walkable places in the country. Overall it grades C, 434th of 841 graded towns in California. It is healthier than 94% of U.S. towns and the median household earns $128K. Its weakest subject is cost of living: the typical home is worth about $1.1 million, 8.2 years of the San Francisco metro’s $136K median household income. 68% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in El Cerrito, where California’s towns sit at 29% and U.S. towns at 29%. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 88% of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top. The biggest place to walk is Hillside Natural Area, 193 acres with 3.2 miles of trail.
What makes El Cerrito stand out
Where El Cerrito beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A growing town
El Cerrito has grown 11% since 2010
23,549 counted in 2010 and 25,962 in 2020; an estimated 26,121 in 2025.
Growth has leveled off: within 1% of 2020, after 10.2% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How El Cerrito grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far El Cerrito is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 99% of comparable towns) to D− for cost of living (better than 3%), so the C overall blends very different results.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 15.1 of 20; 7.4% of households have no carA+Open →Cost of livingD−Open →HealthAlta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp 4.9 miles awayAOpen →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →SafetyDOpen →Jobs & incomeA−Open →SchoolsC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsAOpen →History3 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life4.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 77° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market13 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.8–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 258 attractions →Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and 201 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around El Cerrito. Close and well known come first.
Big draw9 mi MuseumAlcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Big draw10 mi MuseumUSS Hornet
Big draw10 mi LandmarkLombard Street
Big draw12 mi Stadium & arenaChase Center
Big draw11 mi Stadium & arenaOracle Park
Big draw12 mi GardenPresidio of San FranciscoSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary: druchoy, CC BY-SA 2.0 · USS Hornet: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0 · Lombard Street: The original uploader was Y6y6y6 at English Wikipedia., Public domain · Chase Center: Gregory Varnum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Oracle Park: User Coasttocoast on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Presidio of San Francisco: Robert Campbell, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to El Cerrito: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in El Cerrito, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEBMUDNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpEl Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource CenterTown’s haulerTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereContra Costa County Elections DivisionContra Costa County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2025
ZIP code9453094530 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in El Cerrito.
El Cerrito has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, has less no health insurance than most of California and has home values still below their peak.
OutdoorsA
El Cerrito has set aside 6% of its land for conservation
12 miles of trail in 14 parks and preserves. The trail density in El Cerrito is 3.3 miles per square mile.
#60for trails in CA
| El Cerrito | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 3.3 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 6% | 4.2% | 4.3% |
6%
conserved · 140 of 2,342 acres
12 mi
of trails · 3.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hillside Natural Area | 3.2 mi | 193 |
| 2. Arlington Park | 0.4 mi | 5 |
| 3. Ohlone Greenway | 0.3 mi | 16 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC+
On state tests, El Cerrito’s schools trail 64% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the West Contra Costa Unified school district. Two of its 12 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
36%of CA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fred T. Korematsu MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 7–8 | Grades 7–8 | 708 | – |
| El Cerrito HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,460 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
HealthA
El Cerrito’s grade for health is an A
Its widest gap with California is no health insurance: 4.8% of those 18–64 have no health insurance, against 10.6% statewide.
10% of adults report frequent physical distress in El Cerrito. El Cerrito beats the California average on 20 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 14% of adults report frequent mental distress in El Cerrito.
94%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| El Cerrito | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 14% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 17% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 7.3% | 11% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 29% | 35% |
32 measures vs. California
20 better11 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | El Cerrito | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 4.8% | 10.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.3% | 17.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 7.5% | 6.4% |
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp
4.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
88th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyD
More crime per resident in El Cerrito than in 91% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 1,126 to 832 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
El Cerrito’s property crime rate is 27.1 per 1,000 residents.
9%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| El Cerrito | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 27.1 per 1,000 residents | 13.3 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4.2 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
El Cerrito4.2
California4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
El Cerrito27.1
California18.2
U.S.15.5
9th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
12th
percentile among CA towns
112
violent crimes reported in 2025
720
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HousingCost of living grade D−
El Cerrito’s grade for cost of living is a D−
The typical value, about $1.12M, is 11% below its May 2022 peak. At about $1.12M, home values are down 3% in five years, against a rise of 13% across California.
59% of El Cerrito households own their home. The typical El Cerrito home is worth about $1,122,000, up 3.4% in a year, 47% above the California typical home.
$1.12MZillow home value
| El Cerrito | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,548 a month | $1,895 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 59% | 64% | 73% |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 50% | 55% | 48% |
Typical home value
El Cerrito$1.12M
California$762K
Market temperature
13
days on market
135.2%
sale-to-list price
+3.4%
value change, 1 year
14
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
El Cerrito faces a very high natural-hazard risk, led by earthquakes
Since 1982, 15 flood insurance claims have been paid out in El Cerrito.
88risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
15
paid flood claims since 1982
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
With 0.5 jobs for every working resident, most of El Cerrito’s workers commute out
31.8% of workers work from home, against 17.2% across California.
Most working residents leave El Cerrito for work: only 4% work in town. Since 2013, El Cerrito has added 953 jobs, to 5,538 in 2023. The top destinations are San Francisco (21%), Berkeley (12%) and Oakland (11%).
4%work in town
| El Cerrito | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 32% | 14% | 11% |
| Median household income | $128,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 10% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In El Cerrito4%
San Francisco21%
Berkeley12%
Oakland11%
Richmond5%
11 mi
median commute distance
5,538
jobs based in El Cerrito
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: among the most walkable U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In El Cerrito, expect mild winters and pleasant summers
January nights average 42.1°, milder than in 95% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 75.5°.
El Cerrito has warm winters and cool summers. Snow is almost unheard of.
77°summer high
| El Cerrito | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 76°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 42°F | 40°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter43–58°
Spring48–66°
Summer54–76°
Fall51–71°
+1.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
77°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about El Cerrito
20pages on El Cerrito
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 64% of CA districts · 12 schoolsSafetyD4.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than CA on 20 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$1.12M typical home · up 3.4% in a yearWork & commuteA−$128K median household income · 5,538 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 88% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
36 within 15 miles of the center of El Cerrito
Dominican School of Philosophy & TheologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Berkeley3.4 miBerkeley City CollegeCommunity college · Public · Berkeley3.9 mi$1,258 in-state tuitionUniversity of California-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Public · Berkeley4 mi$16,347 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 El Cerrito residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.
Get outside
12 miles of trails in El Cerrito
6% of the town is conserved land, across 14 parks and preserves.
2
Arlington Park0.4 mi of trails · 5 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Famous people from El Cerrito
3 notable people were born in El Cerrito.
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About El Cerrito
City in California, United States
El Cerrito (Spanish for 'The Little Hill') is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, and forms part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It has a population of 25,962 according to the 2020 census. El Cerrito was founded by refugees from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It was incorporated in 1917 as a village with 1,500 residents. As of the census in 2022, there were 25,583 people and 10,637 households in the city.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 69 ft
- ZIP code
- 94530
El Cerrito’s neighbors
3 towns share a border with El Cerrito.
RichmondKensingtonAlbanyEl Cerrito
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Cerrito | #434 | C | D− | D | C+ | A |
| Richmond | #605 | D | C− | D | C+ | C+ |
| Kensington | #174 | B− | D | B− | C+ | A+ |
| Albany | #91 | B+ | D | C− | A | A+ |
Questions about El Cerrito
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is El Cerrito, CA a good place to live?
El Cerrito grades C overall, better than 26% of U.S. towns and #434 of 841 in California. It grades A for health, D for safety and C+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is El Cerrito, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.
What is El Cerrito, CA known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Eric Allman and Kim Gillan.