CensusEasy
CITY

Imperial Beach

California · 25,206 residents (2025 est.) · 4.29 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the San Diego metro area
Compare
The short version

Imperial Beach has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $86,111. Population has declined 5% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $857,000.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 180%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
25,764
−5%since 2000
from 26,992 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
6,006 / sq mi
−5%since 2000
from 6,292 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.1
+23%since 2000
from 28.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:25,206 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
26K26K27K27K27K1990201020202024Imperial Beach
202426K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$86,111
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,882 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$42,196
+164%since 2000
from $16,003 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
55.3%
+28.9 ptssince 2009
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.8%
−4.0 ptssince 2000
from 18.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.442
+7%since 2010
from 0.411 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.3%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Retail trade6.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.4%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$857,000
+180%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $168,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,011
+60%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $690 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
31.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 30.0% in 2000
68.7% rent
Vacancy rate
9.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
29.7%
−10.0 ptssince 2009
from 39.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
57.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 55.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
10.0
+113%since 2000
from 4.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
81
RELATED:See current rent listings in Imperial Beach on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic43.5%(11,737)
Black5%(1,343)
Hispanic / Latino40.1%(10,818)
Asian6.2%(1,677)
Other0%
Diversity Score75.4%(20,359)
2024
White, non-Hispanic32.6%(8,411)
Black3.8%(991)
Hispanic / Latino53%(13,663)
Asian4.6%(1,190)
Other5.9%(1,509)
Diversity Score75.6%(19,489)
Diversity Score
76
Unchangedsince 2000
from 75 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.7%
+15.1 ptssince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.0%
+11.1 ptssince 2000
from 77.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.2%
+5.2 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.1 min
+48%since 2000
from 18.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 71.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.3%
−4.1 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
3.9%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.9%
+6.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.8%
−4.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.1%
−6.8 ptssince 2011
from 13.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.0%
+4.7 ptssince 2011
from 64.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.5%
−25.3 ptssince 2009
from 57.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.7%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Female
48.3%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Foreign born
16.6%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.4%
−39.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
12.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2012
from 11.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.1%
−70.3 ptssince 2013
from 80.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.3%
+10.9 ptssince 2017
from 80.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
57.7%
+5.9 ptssince 2016
from 51.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
37.7%
−2.1 ptssince 2016
from 39.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Imperial Beach

Key West
Pop 24,999
Port St. John
Pop 25,120
DeBary
Pop 23,544
Coral Terrace
Pop 24,895
Places similar to Imperial Beach
Head to head

Compare Imperial Beach to nearby cities

IMPERIAL BEACH VS
Coronado
Income$134,534+56%
Home value$2,000,001+133%
Population21,094−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL BEACH VS
National City
Income$66,841−22%
Home value$612,200−29%
Population57,807+129%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL BEACH VS
Chula Vista
Income$108,032+25%
Home value$758,700−11%
Population275,533+993%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL BEACH VS
Bonita
Income$118,674+38%
Home value$962,800+12%
Population12,652−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Imperial Beach, California?

Imperial Beach, California has about 25,764 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Imperial Beach, California?

The typical household in Imperial Beach, California earns about $86,111 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Imperial Beach, California expensive?

In Imperial Beach, California, the median home is worth about $857,000, and the typical rent is about $2,011 a month.

How educated are people in Imperial Beach, California?

About 26.7% of adults age 25 and over in Imperial Beach, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Imperial Beach, California?

About 14.8% of people in Imperial Beach, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Imperial Beach, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Imperial Beach, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 748 residents, a change of about -3 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
California
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Imperial Beach with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →