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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Imperial Beach

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

With 26,992 people, Imperial Beach is a city in California. 30% of homes are owner-occupied. The median age is 28.6, younger than the US median of 35.2. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 24% national rate. That trails the California median by roughly 24%. Median home value sits at $168,000.

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

26,992
+2%since 1990
from 26,512 in 1990
1990 – 2025
28.6
+6%since 1990
from 26.9 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
4.29 sq mi
Population, 19902024
26K26K27K27K27K19902000201020202024Imperial 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

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

Housing

$168,000
−12%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $144,100 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
$690
−11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $591 in 1990
US average: $602
30.0%
+0.9 ptssince 1990
from 29.1% in 1990
70.0% rent
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)
Section 05

Education

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%
3.0%
−0.4 ptssince 1990
from 3.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

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
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

10.1%
−9.5 ptssince 2013
from 19.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
50.7%
+5.9 ptssince 2020
from 44.8% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
9.3%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 8.0% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
13.1%
+2.1 ptssince 2020
from 11.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
28.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2020
from 30.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
3.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 3.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
61.7%
+2.3 ptssince 2020
from 59.4% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
40.2%
+1.3 ptssince 2020
from 38.9% 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)52.4%(949)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)44.1%(798)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era18.3%(332)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0.6%(11)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,810 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
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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 →