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CITY

Imperial

California · 22,330 residents (2025 est.) · 6.306 sq mi
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The short version

Imperial has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $90,195. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 13,870 residents. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $360,900. At a median age of 31.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

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

Total population
21,430
+183%since 2000
from 7,560 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3,398 / sq mi
+76%since 2009
from 1,929 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
31.3
+5%since 2000
from 29.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:22,330 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
2K8K13K18K23K1990201020202024Imperial
202421K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.8%(1,677)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 99.8%(2,110)
US avg: 6%
10 to 1410.7%(2,295)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1910.3%(2,210)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.4%(1,373)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.4%(2,024)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4415.1%(3,246)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.7%(2,071)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6411.1%(2,379)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 745.6%(1,197)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.5%(535)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.5%(313)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$90,195
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,451 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,877
+81%since 2000
from $16,538 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
60.5%
+29.2 ptssince 2009
from 31.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
12.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.398
+6%since 2010
from 0.376 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Finance & insurance7.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Information6.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade3.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade3.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services2.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.4%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration1.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$360,900
+97%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,255
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $597 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
69.5%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 71.4% in 2000
30.5% rent
Vacancy rate
11.2%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.7%
−27.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.2%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 44.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
−13%since 2009
from 4.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
50
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Imperial on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic32.4%(2,447)
Black2.4%(181)
Hispanic / Latino61.1%(4,619)
Asian2.3%(173)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic10.5%(2,250)
Black0.5%(117)
Hispanic / Latino85.4%(18,293)
Asian2.9%(618)
Other0.7%(152)
Diversity Score
32
−42%since 2009
from 56 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican83.6%(17,925)
Puerto Rican0.5%(104)
Cuban0.3%(64)
Panamanian0.1%(30)
Asian origin
Filipino1%(212)
Japanese1%(206)
Korean0.9%(199)
Chinese0.2%(51)
Vietnamese0.2%(37)
Hmong0.1%(25)
Asian Indian0.1%(18)
Ancestry
American3.1%(661)
German1.7%(356)
Irish1.3%(288)
English0.9%(188)
Italian0.8%(164)
Portuguese0.5%(115)
Hungarian0.5%(107)
Norwegian0.5%(101)
Arab0.4%(85)
Scottish0.2%(49)
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.2%(39)
Lithuanian0.2%(34)
Jordanian0.1%(30)
Nigerian0.1%(30)
Dutch0.1%(27)
Slovene0.1%(25)
French0.1%(24)
British0.1%(17)
Swedish0.1%(17)
Polish0.1%(12)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest American population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Filipino population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.7%
+5.8 ptssince 2000
from 16.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
83.0%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 78.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
6.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.6 min
+53%since 2000
from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
11.1%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
2.2%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
8.2%
−7.2 ptssince 2011
from 15.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
60.6%
−10.3 ptssince 2011
from 70.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.8%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.6%
−23.9 ptssince 2009
from 60.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.7% in 2009
Female
50.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
Foreign born
25.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−43.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.1%
+5.3 ptssince 2012
from 7.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.8%
−80.1 ptssince 2013
from 83.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.7%
+4.3 ptssince 2017
from 87.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
29.7%
−7.0 ptssince 2016
from 36.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
67.5%
+6.1 ptssince 2016
from 61.4% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married39%(2,751)
Married54.2%(3,828)
Widowed0.8%(56)
Divorced6%(423)
Women 15+
Never married37.9%(3,146)
Married40.2%(3,336)
Widowed7.5%(620)
Divorced14.3%(1,188)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Imperial to nearby cities

IMPERIAL VS
El Centro
Income$53,082−41%
Home value$323,100−10%
Population44,382+99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL VS
Brawley
Income$59,311−34%
Home value$290,700−19%
Population28,008+25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL VS
Calexico
Income$49,783−45%
Home value$313,600−13%
Population38,623+73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL VS
Somerton
Income$74,015−18%
Home value$232,600−36%
Population14,934−33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →