It’s a little bit California. It’s a little bit Mexico. It’s Calexico, a small desert city on the U.S.-Mexico border. Hot, arid weather, palm tree-lined streets and plenty of sunny days are defining features of this Southern California town. On the other side of the border is Mexicali, the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California, which dwarfs Calexico in size. “It’s a small town, and the most attractive thing about it is its proximity to Mexico,” says broker Adriel Garza of Keller Williams Realty, who lives in the neighboring city of El Centro. “There are a lot of people who live there who have dual citizenship who work in Mexico but want to live in the United States.”
The two cities may be separated by a patrolled partition, but people flow through its barricades every day for work or to visit friends and relatives. Officials have said the border crossing between the two sees as many as 25,000 crossings daily. Mexicali is a large, urban city and a major manufacturing hub with lots of factories, whereas Calexico is more agricultural, with farms fanning out beyond the city limits. The city is also bordered by one of the largest solar power farms in the world, owing to the area’s abundance of year-round sunshine. “Agriculture is big. There are also a lot of import and export businesses and small businesses in Calexico,” Garza says.
With Mexico just steps away, Calexico blends cross-border culture, commerce, and community in everyday life.
Calexico thrives on agriculture, with farms stretching beyond the city limits, shaping its landscape and economy.
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Downtown Calexico for local eats, shops and grocers
Downtown Calexico stretches for several city blocks, dotted with local markets and grocers, fast-food chains and local eateries. As might be expected, Mexican restaurants are a common sight, with everything from hole-in-the-wall taquerias to downhome restaurants serving Central American classics. City institutions like Rockwood Plaza, Calexico City Hall and the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center are also found here. The area’s best-known shopping mall is Gran Plaza Outlet, where people come for upscale and designer brands like Coach, Adidas and Levi’s.
Downtown Calexico offers local markets, fast food, and a variety of authentic Mexican restaurants.
Find premium fashion in Calexico at Gran Plaza Outlet, home to Coach, Adidas, Levi’s, and more.
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Community parks tucked away on residential streets
Calexico’s streets are sprinkled with small community parks. There are 22 parks in the city, encompassing about 60 acres, and another 122 acres of open space. Some favorites include John F. Kennedy Playground, Las Casitas Park and Cordova Park, all of which are located on residential streets and have playing fields and playgrounds. Outside the city are massive sand dunes that are popular for off-roading in four-wheelers and all-terrain vehicles. The weather in Calexico is notoriously hot. “It probably gets up to around 125 degrees in the summer. There are about three months that are really harsh, but other than it’s not so bad,” Garza says.
Rodriguez Park in Calexico features tennis courts, open green spaces, and picnic areas for all to enjoy.
Feel the rush of adventure at the Imperial Sand Dunes, a favorite spot for ATV and OHV riders.
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Bungalows, ranches and Mediterranean Revival homes
Homes closest to the border were largely built in the early and mid-20th century, and include many small bungalows, cottages and ranch style homes. Newer builds are found further from the city’s core, closer to the open desert and farmland that stretches out beyond its edges. These neighborhoods typically feature spacious, Mediterranean Revival style homes with red shingled roofs, arched doorways and stucco walls. The median home price in Calexico is $390,000, putting it well below the California statewide average of around $900,000. Homes spend an average of 49 days on the market compared to the national average of 45 days.
Calexico blends historic cottages and ranch homes with newer Mediterranean Revival-style residences.
With a median price of $390K, Calexico offers affordable homes with easy access to surrounding areas.
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Public and private schools close to home
The Calexico Unified School District gets a C-minus from Niche. The district’s 8,000 students are spread out across seven elementary schools, two junior high schools and two high schools. There are several highly rated private schools in the city, including Vincent Memorial Catholic High School and Calexico Mission School, both of which earn A-minus ratings. San Diego State University’s Imperial Valley campus is the only college in town.
William Moreno Junior High in Calexico provides a strong academic foundation for middle school students.
Calexico Mission School in Calexico offers a Christ-centered education for students of all ages.
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Getting around Southern California
Calexico is traversed by State Route 98, an east-west corridor that connects with Interstate 8, a major highway that connects with the California coast to the west and Arizona to the east. It’s 120 miles to San Diego and 240 miles to Phoenix, the nearest major U.S. cities. Air travelers have easy access to Calexico International Airport, which offers nonstop flights to places like Los Angeles and Phoenix. El Centro Regional Medical Center is about 11 miles north.
Low rates of crime
Calexico’s violent and property crime rates are far below the statewide and national averages, according to FBI data. Crime in the city has remained relatively low over the past decade, although motor vehicle thefts spiked during the years immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Written By
Daniel Berti
Photography Contributed By
Stephen Cammell
Video By
Chris Freeman
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