At a Glance
Median Income
$48,990
$20,817 per capita
Home Value
$306,700
Zillow: $544,957
Median Rent
$1,106/mo
32.4% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
8.5%
73.6% high school+
Unemployment
13.6%
25.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.7%
17.2% smoking rate
How Empire Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Empire's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Empire a Good Place to Live?
C
2.2 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Empire residents earn a median household income of $48,990 , which is 35% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $20,817. The unemployment rate stands at 13.6% (278% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 25.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 8,584 business establishments, including 403 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Empire is $306,700 , 9% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $544,957. Median rent is $1,106/month, with 32.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1971.
Education
8.5% of adults in Empire hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(75% below the national average).
73.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.0/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Empire has an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C).
Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 12.3 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 52.
Data Overview
People
Population3,867
Median Age38.1 yrs
Density3,305/mi²
Male / Female51% / 49%
Foreign Born20.0%
Veterans3.0%
Economy
D
Median Income$48,990
Per Capita$20,817
Unemployment13.6%
Poverty25.5%
County GDP$13,282M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,057
Housing
B
Home Value$306,700
Rent$1,106
Ownership57.8%
Zillow$544,957
Housing Units1,233
Rent Burden32.4%
Health
Obesity40.7%
Diabetes13.5%
Smoking17.2%
Heart Disease6.9%
Premature Death8,849/100K
Climate
Avg Temp63°F
Rain12.3 in/yr
AQI52 (Moderate)
Elevation108 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+8.5%
High School+73.6%
Graduate+0.0%
School Score4.0/10
Community
2024 VoteR 51% / D 47%
Commute27 min
Broadband87.0%
Internet Speed78 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries13
Did You Know?
The median home in Empire was built in 1971.
The nearest airport is Merced Yosemite Regional (33 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.458 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
17.6% of the population has a disability.
20.0% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 403 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 62 fatal vehicle crashes.