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COUNTY

Imperial County

California · 181,411 residents (2025 est.) · 4,175.528 sq mi
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Part of the El Centro metro area
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Notable rankings
#23Most foreign-born residentsof 3,14431.6%#149Youngest by median ageof 3,14433.2
The short version

Imperial County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $57,681. Population has grown 27% since 2000. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $309,600. At a median age of 33.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 42% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 81%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
180,202
+27%since 2000
from 142,361 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
43 / sq mi
+13%since 2009
from 38 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
33.2
+7%since 2000
from 31.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:181,411 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
102K124K145K166K188K1990201020202024Imperial County
2024180K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.1%(12,744)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.3%(13,065)
US avg: 6%
10 to 149.1%(16,437)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 197.8%(14,126)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.9%(12,411)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3414.5%(26,093)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.8%(23,056)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.8%(19,520)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6410%(18,049)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748%(14,411)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.1%(7,320)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.6%(2,970)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$57,681
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $31,870 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,552
+78%since 2000
from $13,239 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.2%
+16.2 ptssince 2009
from 22.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
19.5%
−3.0 ptssince 2000
from 22.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.466
−1%since 2010
from 0.469 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing9.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction9.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance7.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Retail trade4.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services2.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration1.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$309,600
+81%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $93,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,056
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $504 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
56.8%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 58.3% in 2000
43.2% rent
Vacancy rate
14.5%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 12.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
27.3%
−10.4 ptssince 2009
from 37.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
49.6%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.4
−2%since 2009
from 5.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
34
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Imperial County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic20.2%(28,768)
Black3.6%(5,148)
Hispanic / Latino72.2%(102,817)
Asian1.7%(2,446)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic9.1%(16,413)
Black2%(3,523)
Hispanic / Latino86%(154,886)
Asian1.3%(2,260)
Other1.7%(3,120)
Diversity Score
32
−36%since 2009
from 49 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
38
−1%since 2020
from 39 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican82.9%(149,370)
Central American0.9%(1,647)
Salvadoran0.5%(872)
Spaniard0.4%(765)
Guatemalan0.2%(450)
Puerto Rican0.2%(434)
Nicaraguan0.1%(192)
Colombian0.1%(165)
Dominican0.1%(138)
Cuban0.1%(121)
Argentine0%(83)
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data
Honduran0%(81)
Peruvian0%(61)
Chilean0%(17)
Asian origin
Filipino0.5%(859)
Chinese0.3%(516)
Japanese0.3%(458)
Korean0.2%(404)
Cambodian0.1%(138)
Asian Indian0.1%(110)
Taiwanese0%(37)
Hmong0%(36)
Laotian0%(15)
+ 1 more asian origin group with data
Thai0%(3)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.3%(601)
Fijian0%(86)
Chamorro0%(51)
Tongan0%(14)
Ancestry
English2.1%(3,765)
Irish1.7%(3,134)
German1.7%(3,125)
American1.5%(2,624)
Italian0.7%(1,304)
French0.3%(555)
Scottish0.2%(445)
Norwegian0.2%(385)
West Indian0.2%(327)
Portuguese0.2%(300)
Jamaican0.2%(292)
+ 38 more ancestry groups with data
Swiss0.2%(279)
Dutch0.1%(265)
Swedish0.1%(215)
Polish0.1%(212)
British0.1%(189)
Arab0.1%(143)
Hungarian0.1%(132)
Canadian0.1%(102)
Scotch-Irish0.1%(97)
Czech0%(87)
Danish0%(86)
Welsh0%(79)
Slovak0%(60)
Ghanaian0%(50)
Ukrainian0%(47)
Ethiopian0%(45)
Nigerian0%(45)
Armenian0%(35)
Russian0%(34)
Greek0%(32)
Jordanian0%(30)
Egyptian0%(26)
Slovene0%(25)
Lebanese0%(18)
Croatian0%(13)
Iranian0%(13)
Haitian0%(13)
Belgian0%(11)
Finnish0%(10)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.1%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
71.5%
+12.5 ptssince 2000
from 59.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 3.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.1 min
+63%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 78.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.8%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.2%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.6%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.1%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
12.5%
−3.9 ptssince 2011
from 16.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
53.0%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 54.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 20.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.4%
−31.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.4%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.9% in 2009
Female
48.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
Foreign born
31.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 31.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.4%
−48.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2012
from 13.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.0%
−72.7 ptssince 2013
from 78.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.1%
+20.3 ptssince 2017
from 69.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
24.7%
+0.4 ptssince 2016
from 24.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
74.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2016
from 73.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married44.5%(31,702)
Married46.6%(33,149)
Widowed2.1%(1,507)
Divorced6.8%(4,817)
Women 15+
Never married36.4%(24,311)
Married43.9%(29,310)
Widowed9.3%(6,224)
Divorced10.4%(6,936)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

Places similar to Imperial County

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Pop 171,666
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Pop 202,171
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Pop 187,688
Vanderburgh County
Pop 181,995
Places similar to Imperial County
Head to head

Compare Imperial County to nearby counties

IMPERIAL COUNTY VS
Riverside County
Income$93,074+61%
Home value$557,300+80%
Population2,544,916+1303%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL COUNTY VS
San Diego County
Income$106,268+84%
Home value$854,700+176%
Population3,282,248+1709%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL COUNTY VS
Yuma County
Income$62,876+9%
Home value$217,800−30%
Population224,449+24%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
IMPERIAL COUNTY VS
La Paz County
Income$49,478−14%
Home value$135,800−56%
Population16,711−91%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Imperial County, California?

Imperial County, California has about 180,202 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Imperial County, California earns about $57,681 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Imperial County, California expensive?

In Imperial County, California, the median home is worth about $309,600, and the typical rent is about $1,056 a month.

How educated are people in Imperial County, California?

About 16.1% of adults age 25 and over in Imperial County, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Imperial County, California?

About 19.5% of people in Imperial County, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Imperial County, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Imperial County, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 70,899 residents, a change of about 65 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

40 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 110.02Census Tract 112.01Census Tract 106Census Tract 118.03Census Tract 105Census Tract 116Census Tract 123.02Census Tract 110.01Census Tract 109Census Tract 119.03Census Tract 112.02Census Tract 120.04Census Tract 101.02Census Tract 115Census Tract 120.01Census Tract 118.02Census Tract 117Census Tract 107Census Tract 104.02Census Tract 113.03
15 ZIP codes
ZIP 92243ZIP 92231ZIP 92227ZIP 92251ZIP 92250ZIP 92249ZIP 92233ZIP 92257ZIP 92281ZIP 92283ZIP 92275ZIP 92273ZIP 92259ZIP 92266ZIP 92222
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →