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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Imperial Beach

California · 26,992 residents · 4.29 sq mi
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The short version

Imperial Beach has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $35,882. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 24%. Median home value is $168,000. At a median age of 28.6, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 28.6
US median: 35.2
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 12%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
26,992
+2%since 1990
from 26,512 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
28.6
+6%since 1990
from 26.9 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
26K26K27K27K27K1990201020202024Imperial Beach
202426K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 58.4%(2,264)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 98.5%(2,294)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.9%(2,143)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 198.5%(2,304)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 2410%(2,702)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3417%(4,599)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415.3%(4,123)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5411%(2,964)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 645.8%(1,570)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 744.4%(1,184)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 842.6%(697)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over0.5%(148)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$35,882
+3%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $26,464 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$16,003
+49%since 1990
from $10,731 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
18.8%
+1.1 ptssince 1990
from 17.7% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$168,000
−12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $144,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$690
−11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $591 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
30.0%
+0.9 ptssince 1990
from 29.1% in 1990
70.0% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Imperial Beach on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic72.9%(19,338)
Black4.9%(1,298)
Hispanic / Latino28%(7,429)
Asian8.3%(2,201)
2000
White, non-Hispanic43.5%(11,737)
Black5%(1,343)
Hispanic / Latino40.1%(10,818)
Asian6.2%(1,677)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican47.6%(12,267)
Guatemalan1.4%(352)
Puerto Rican0.9%(232)
Colombian0.7%(186)
Spaniard0.4%(110)
Salvadoran0.3%(87)
Honduran0.2%(48)
Cuban0.2%(42)
Nicaraguan0.2%(39)
Chilean0.1%(23)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Venezuelan0.1%(19)
Dominican0.1%(14)
Ecuadorian0.1%(14)
Asian origin
Filipino5.1%(1,324)
Japanese0.2%(57)
Asian Indian0.2%(42)
Chinese0.2%(39)
Vietnamese0.1%(31)
Laotian0.1%(27)
Cambodian0.1%(18)
Pacific Islander origin
Fijian0.1%(37)
Guamanian0.1%(17)
Chamorro0%(12)
Ancestry
German7%(1,803)
Irish5.9%(1,522)
English4.3%(1,113)
Italian3.8%(989)
American3.2%(829)
French2.5%(636)
Scottish1.3%(341)
Polish1%(264)
Norwegian0.9%(221)
Welsh0.6%(160)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(155)
Swedish0.6%(144)
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data
Arab0.5%(132)
Russian0.5%(128)
Greek0.3%(89)
Dutch0.3%(79)
Portuguese0.3%(78)
Egyptian0.3%(67)
Brazilian0.3%(66)
Nigerian0.2%(54)
Ukrainian0.2%(47)
Lithuanian0.2%(45)
Czech0.1%(38)
Swiss0.1%(38)
Iranian0.1%(37)
Iraqi0.1%(34)
Danish0.1%(33)
Finnish0.1%(33)
British0.1%(26)
Canadian0.1%(24)
Lebanese0.1%(22)
West Indian0.1%(22)
Hungarian0.1%(18)
Romanian0.1%(14)
Croatian0%(12)
Haitian0%(12)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Filipino population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.7%
−0.4 ptssince 1990
from 12.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
77.0%
−0.9 ptssince 1990
from 77.9% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
3.0%
−0.4 ptssince 1990
from 3.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.3 min
−18%since 1990
from 22.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married36.4%(3,662)
Married51.2%(5,147)
Widowed2%(201)
Divorced10.4%(1,044)
Women 15+
Never married26.9%(2,758)
Married51.2%(5,239)
Widowed6.8%(692)
Divorced15.2%(1,552)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Drill deeper

Places similar to Imperial Beach

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Pop 24,999
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Pop 25,120
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Head to head

Compare Imperial Beach to nearby cities

IMPERIAL BEACH VS
Coronado
Income$134,534+275%
Home value$2,000,001+1090%
Population21,094−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL BEACH VS
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Income$66,841+86%
Home value$612,200+264%
Population57,807+129%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL BEACH VS
Chula Vista
Income$108,032+201%
Home value$758,700+352%
Population275,533+993%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL BEACH VS
Bonita
Income$118,674+231%
Home value$962,800+473%
Population12,652−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Imperial Beach, California?

Imperial Beach, California has about 26,992 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Imperial Beach, California earns about $35,882 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 $168,000, and the typical rent is about $690 a month.

How educated are people in Imperial Beach, California?

About 11.7% 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 18.8% of people in Imperial Beach, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Imperial Beach, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Imperial Beach, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 480 residents, a change of about 2 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 →