United States › California › Imperial CITY
Imperial California · 22,330 residents (2025 est.) · 6.31 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Imperial is home to 21,430 people in California. The population has roughly tripled since 2000, adding 13,870 people. This skews young, with a median age of 31.3. That puts it in the top 10% of US cities for household income. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 23% of adults. The foreign-born share is 25%.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 97%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 7,560 in 2000
22,330 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
3,398 / sq mi
+76%since 2009
from 1,929 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 29.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 8K 13K 18K 23K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Imperial Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $90,195
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,451 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $16,538 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 31.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.376 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.1%
Education & health services 2.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.4%
Transportation & warehousing 2%
Public administration 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$360,900
+97%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,255
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $597 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 71.4% in 2000
30.5% rent
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
3.58 people
+12%since 2009
from 3.21 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 44.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.6 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 32.4%(2,447)
Hispanic / Latino 61.1%(4,619)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 10.5%(2,250)
Hispanic / Latino 85.4%(18,293)
from 56 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data from 16.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 78.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 15.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 70.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 69.8% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 7.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 16.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 87.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 94.4% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 36.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 61.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Women 15+
Never married 37.9%(3,146)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 58.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 4.7% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 11.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 25.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 66.8% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 35.4% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 30.4%(283)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.9%(213)
Share of the 932 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Imperial Head to head
Compare Imperial to nearby cities IMPERIAL VS
El Centro
Income $53,082 −41%
Home value $323,100 −10%
Population 44,382 +99%
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IMPERIAL VS
Brawley
Income $59,311 −34%
Home value $290,700 −19%
Population 28,008 +25%
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IMPERIAL VS
Calexico
Income $49,783 −45%
Home value $313,600 −13%
Population 38,623 +73%
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IMPERIAL VS
Somerton
Income $74,015 −18%
Home value $232,600 −36%
Population 14,934 −33%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Imperial, California? Imperial, California has about 21,430 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Imperial, California? The typical household in Imperial, California earns about $90,195 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Imperial, California expensive? In Imperial, California, the median home is worth about $360,900, and the typical rent is about $1,255 a month.
How educated are people in Imperial, California? About 22.7% of adults age 25 and over in Imperial, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Imperial, California? About 12.5% of people in Imperial, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Imperial, California grown since 1990? Yes, Imperial, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 17,317 residents, a change of about 421 percent over that period.
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