Imperial, CA

Full City Profile · California · Imperial County County

2.8 /5.0
C+ Fair
20,943 Population 3,319/sq mi density
$83,214 Median Income $28,599 per capita
$344,700 Home Value $442,042 Zillow
$1,396 Median Rent 30.6% income on rent
74°F Avg Temperature
82 Violent Crime/100K 205 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.8 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.4 / 5.0
$83,214 median income, 8.5% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.3 / 5.0
$344,700 home value, $1,396/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
82 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.3% bachelor's degree or higher

Imperial, CA

At a Glance

Median Income
$83,214
11% above
$28,599 per capita
Home Value
$344,700
22% above
Zillow: $442,042
Median Rent
$1,396/mo
20% above
30.6% of income on rent
Violent Crime
82/100K
78% below
205/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
20.3%
40% below
82.9% high school+
Unemployment
8.5%
136% above
10.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
32.6%
2% above
10.9% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
74°F

How Imperial Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Imperial's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
111%
Home Value
122%
Rent
120%
Poverty
86%
Bachelor's
60%
Unemployment
236%
Crime
22%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Imperial a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.8 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Imperial residents earn a median household income of $83,214 , which is 11% above the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $28,599. The unemployment rate stands at 8.5% (136% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 10.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 9,795 business establishments, including 280 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Imperial is $344,700 , 22% above the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $442,042. Median rent is $1,396/month, with 30.6% 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 2000.

Safety & Crime

Imperial reports 82 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 78% below the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 205/100K.

Education

20.3% of adults in Imperial hold a bachelor's degree or higher (40% below the national average). 82.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.1/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Imperial has an average annual temperature of 74°F (23°C). Winters average 56°F in January while summers reach 93°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 2.4 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 63.

Data Overview

People

Population20,943
Median Age32.9 yrs
Density3,319/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born25.9%
Veterans6.5%

Economy

B
Median Income$83,214
Per Capita$28,599
Unemployment8.5%
Poverty10.7%
County GDP$12,907M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,051

Housing

A
Home Value$344,700
Rent$1,396
Ownership65.5%
Zillow$442,042
Housing Units6,295
Rent Burden30.6%

Crime

F
Violent82/100K
Property205/100K

Health

Obesity32.6%
Diabetes12.4%
Smoking10.9%
Heart Disease5.4%
Premature Death8,703/100K

Climate

Avg Temp74°F
Rain2.4 in/yr
AQI63 (Moderate)
Elevation-59 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+20.3%
High School+82.9%
Graduate+6.6%
School Score4.1/10

Community

2024 VoteR 49% / D 48%
Commute18 min
Broadband88.8%
Internet Speed81 Mbps
EV Stations5
Libraries12

Did You Know?

Imperial was founded in 1904.
The median home in Imperial was built in 2000.
The nearest airport is Calexico International (12 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.459 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
14.1% of the population has a disability.
25.9% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 280 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 36 fatal vehicle crashes.