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Brawley, CA
City in Imperial County, California.
Population
27,283
Land area
8.1sq mi
People per sq mi
3,373
ZIP codes
0
Brawley and its ZIP codes
Brawley at a glance
- Brawley is about 13 times as dense as California as a whole.
- It is the 284th most populous of 1,570 cities and towns in California.
- Households here earn a median of $59,311 a year, 40% less than the California figure of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $290,700 (60% below California) and median rent is $988 a month.
Local data for Brawley, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Brawley, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$59,311
Poverty rate
21.3%
Median home value
$290,700
Median rent
$988/mo
Homeownership
51.6%
Bachelor's or higher
15.9%
Median age
30.6
Average commute
18.2 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (22,525), German Americans (651), Irish Americans (542).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Imperial County. PPP loans are for Brawley.
Unemployment rate
21.9%
Aug 2026, -0.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$56,305
67,955 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$52,117
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$2.6B
FY 2026, $14,351 per person
How people get to work
Brawley, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone77.0%
- Carpooled6.7%
- Public transit0.6%
- Walked2.0%
- Bicycle0.5%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.1%
- Worked from home11.1%
Average one-way commute: 18.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Brawley, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: earthquake
Storm events since 1996
571
Countywide, mostly excessive heat
Flood insurance policies
33
0.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
108° / 41°F
2.4 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Brawley, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
35.1%
U.S. 33.3% +1.8 pts
Diabetes
15.3%
U.S. 12.1% +3.2 pts
Smoking
13.1%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
21.5%
U.S. 11.1% +10.4 pts
Cities near Brawley
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| WestmorlandCity | 6.9 mi | 0.6 |
| ImperialCity | 9.3 mi | 6.3 |
| CalipatriaCity | 13 mi | 3.7 |
| El Centro Naval Air FacilityCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 4.2 |
| El CentroCity | 14 mi | 12.1 |
| HoltvilleCity | 14 mi | 1.1 |
| SeeleyCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 1.4 |
| HeberCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 1.4 |
| NilandCensus-designated place | 18 mi | 0.4 |
| CalexicoCity | 20 mi | 8.5 |
| Bombay BeachCensus-designated place | 29 mi | 0.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Brawley, CA in?
- Brawley is in Imperial County, California.
- What is the population of Brawley, CA?
- About 27,283 people live in Brawley, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Brawley?
- Nearby places include Westmorland (6.9 mi), Imperial (9.3 mi), Calipatria (13 mi), El Centro Naval Air Facility (13 mi), El Centro (14 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023