CensusEasy
CITY · 2010 ACS

Imperial Beach

California · 26,324 residents · 4.29 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the San Diego metro area
Compare
The short version

Imperial Beach has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $45,418. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $405,600. At a median age of 31.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 25% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 31.0
US median: 37.2
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 91%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
26,324
−2%since 2000
from 26,992 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
6,136 / sq mi
−2%since 2000
from 6,292 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
31.0
+8%since 2000
from 28.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
26K26K27K27K27K1990201020202024Imperial Beach
202426K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$45,418
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,882 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$20,374
+27%since 2000
from $16,003 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
25.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 26.4% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
19.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 18.8% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.411
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information12.6%
US avg: 11.5%
Other services7.2%
US avg: 7%
Wholesale trade7%
US avg: 7.2%
Retail trade6.3%
US avg: 10.9%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.1%
US avg: 4.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.2%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food1.5%
US avg: 2.4%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.4%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$405,600
+91%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $168,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,073
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $690 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
21.7%
−8.3 ptssince 2000
from 30.0% in 2000
69.8% rent
Vacancy rate
14.1%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
37.1%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 39.8% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
58.6%
+3.5 ptssince 2009
from 55.1% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
8.9
+91%since 2000
from 4.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic36%(9,487)
Black4%(1,063)
Hispanic / Latino49%(12,893)
Asian6.2%(1,624)
Other3.8%(989)
Diversity Score76.9%(20,256)
Diversity Score
77
+2%since 2000
from 75 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
15.8%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.7% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
81.0%
+4.0 ptssince 2000
from 77.0% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 3.0% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.9 min
+41%since 2000
from 18.3 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
74.2%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 71.8% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
10.4%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
6.6%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
4.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
2.2%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.9%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
12.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.1%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.3% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
24.7%
−33.2 ptssince 2009
from 57.8% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.5%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.3% in 2009
Female
51.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
Foreign born
20.3%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.6% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
11.7%
−37.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+196%
Home value$2,000,001+393%
Population21,094−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL BEACH VS
National City
Income$66,841+47%
Home value$612,200+51%
Population57,807+129%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL BEACH VS
Chula Vista
Income$108,032+138%
Home value$758,700+87%
Population275,533+993%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL BEACH VS
Bonita
Income$118,674+161%
Home value$962,800+137%
Population12,652−50%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Imperial Beach, California?

Imperial Beach, California has about 26,324 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Imperial Beach, California earns about $45,418 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 $405,600, and the typical rent is about $1,073 a month.

How educated are people in Imperial Beach, California?

About 15.8% 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 19.5% 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 188 residents, a change of about -1 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 →