United States › California › Imperial CITY · 2020 ACS
Imperial California · 20,263 residents · 6.31 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Imperial is home to 20,263 people in California. The population has more than doubled since 2000, adding 12,703 people. This skews young, with a median age of 32.7. About 22% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The foreign-born share is 21%. Poverty is uncommon here, at 6.4% of locals.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.7
US median: 38.8
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 64%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 29.9 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 8K 13K 18K 23K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Imperial Age distribution, 2020
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $82,133
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $49,451 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,538 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 31.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 11.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 3.2%
Education & health services 2.6%
Transportation & warehousing 1.7%
Public administration 1.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$248,200
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $100,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,155
+29%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $597 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 71.4% in 2000
30.4% rent
4.01 people
+25%since 2009
from 3.21 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 4.6 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 32.4%(2,447)
Hispanic / Latino 61.1%(4,619)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 12.1%(2,452)
Hispanic / Latino 82.7%(16,757)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 5 more ancestry groups with data from 16.9% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 78.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 7.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 15.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 70.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 33.2% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 27.6% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 16.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Women 15+
Never married 37.9%(3,146)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 16.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 11.5%(58)
Gulf War (1990s) 34.5%(174)
Share of the 504 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
Drill deeper
Places similar to Imperial Head to head
Compare Imperial to nearby cities IMPERIAL VS
El Centro
Income $53,082 −35%
Home value $323,100 +30%
Population 44,382 +99%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL VS
Brawley
Income $59,311 −28%
Home value $290,700 +17%
Population 28,008 +25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL VS
Calexico
Income $49,783 −39%
Home value $313,600 +26%
Population 38,623 +73%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL VS
Somerton
Income $74,015 −10%
Home value $232,600 −6%
Population 14,934 −33%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Imperial, California? Imperial, California has about 20,263 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Imperial, California? The typical household in Imperial, California earns about $82,133 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 $248,200, and the typical rent is about $1,155 a month.
How educated are people in Imperial, California? About 21.6% 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 6.4% 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 16,150 residents, a change of about 393 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 