El Cerrito is a small city with proximity to key Bay Area talent pools and technology clusters. Available commercial and light industrial properties support energy-focused research and development, manufacturing, and green service businesses.
As of 2026 the population of El Cerrito is 26,226. The population is expected to grow to 26,885 by 2031 - a growth rate of 0.50%.
The median age of El Cerrito residents is 43.
The diversity index of El Cerrito is 76.0, meaning that there is a 76% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in El Cerrito is $183,906 and projected to be $204,911 in 2031. Per capita income is $75,300, projected to be $84,564 in 2031. 14.05% of households – 3,686 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $2,571,904 and the average disposable income is $130,174.
There are 11,256 housing units in El Cerrito; 6,228 are owner-occupied, 4,497 are rented, and 531 are vacant. The average home value is $1,268,095, with 430 homes built in 2010 or later, and 1,517 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 781 businesses in El Cerrito, employing 6,485 workers and pulling from a labor force of 13,432 age 16 and above. 6,497 workers commute into El Cerrito from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
6,918 residents both live and work in/around El Cerrito. The average travel time is 33.3 minutes. 1.94% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 4.35% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 5,455 drive alone, 796 carpool, and 2,059 take public transportation. 697 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 4,268 residents work from home.
2,210 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 955 have associates degrees, 7,549 have bachelor’s degrees, and 6,364 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
