Heber offers rural living and easy access to the Mexican border
Heber stands among the farmland of the Imperial Valley, an outpost between the Mexican border and the county seat. It is made up of brightly decorated single-family homes shaded by palm trees and sits a short distance from shopping destinations like the Imperial Valley Mall. Residents of this rural town enjoy a slice of country quietude along with access to modern conveniences. “It’s a smaller town, with no rat race like there is down in Mexicali,” says Realtor Joseph McCormack with Real Estate One of Imperial Valley, who has over 33 years of experience in the area. “It’s close to Calexico, and maybe 10 minutes from the border. A lot of people tend to choose it for that closeness to Mexico, being able to visit family in Mexicali.”
A mix of ranch-style homes and Modern Traditional subdivisions
Heber’s residential streets are organized into neat boxes around cul-de-sacs, the sidewalks lined with palm trees and green lawns. “There are subdivisions east and west of town where you’ll find a lot of Modern Traditional houses,” McCormack says. “In between is old Heber, which is more ranch-style homes built around the midcentury. Even though it’s not quite as clean-cut as some of the surrounding towns, prices stay within a good range.” Prices for single-family homes range from $220,000 to $465,000, depending on number of bedrooms, build year and square footage.
Heber students attend high school in nearby El Centro
Children in Heber are zoned to attend Dogwood Elementary, rated B by Niche, from kindergarten through grade third. For grades fourth through eighth, they may proceed to Heber Elementary, which earns a B-minus. “After middle school, students go north to El Centro for high school,” McCormack says. “It’s something like a 10 to 15 minute drive.” Southwest High, the closest of the two El Centro high schools, scores a B-plus.
Heber's town parks offer playgrounds and basketball courts
On the west side of Heber, residents can play weekend pickup basketball games while children clamor over the shaded jungle gym at Estancia Park. Margarito “Tito” Heurta, Jr. Park offers a pair of multipurpose athletic fields and a baseball diamond. Heber Meadows Park on the east side of town also offers a shaded playground and a swing set. Golfers can head north to Broken Spoke Country Club to play on the public, 9-hole course.
Ma Lupe's Food Truck is Heber's only local restaurant
Kennedy’s Market on Main Street is Heber’s main grocery store. The Walmart Supercenter in Calexico is the closest big-box retailer. Residents can also pick up daily necessities at the Imperial Valley Mall, home to over 75 restaurants and stores. The only restaurant in town is Ma Lupe’s Food Truck, which offers a shaded seating area for customers to enjoy the authentic Mexican cuisine.
State Routes 86 and 111 connect Heber to El Centro and Mexico
California state Route 86 is Heber’s main thoroughfare, connecting the town north to El Centro and east to Highway 111. “Lots of people make day trips down the 111 to Calexico and Mexicali,” McCormack says. “Mexicali is one of the biggest border crossing towns in the country, and people really like that closeness.” This road is also the most direct route south to either branch of the El Centro Regional Medical Center.
