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Imperial, CA
City in Imperial County, California.
Population
21,430
Land area
6.3sq mi
People per sq mi
3,398
ZIP codes
0
Imperial and its ZIP codes
Imperial at a glance
- Imperial is about 13 times as dense as California as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $90,195 a year, 9% less than the California figure of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $360,900 (51% below California) and median rent is $1,255 a month.
Local data for Imperial, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Imperial, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$90,195
Poverty rate
12.5%
Median home value
$360,900
Median rent
$1,255/mo
Homeownership
69.5%
Bachelor's or higher
22.7%
Median age
31.3
Average commute
18.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (17,925), German Americans (356), Irish Americans (288).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Imperial County. PPP loans are for Imperial.
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
Imperial, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.1%
- Carpooled11.1%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked2.3%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home7.5%
Average one-way commute: 18.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Imperial, 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
104° / 43°F
2.8 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Imperial, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
33.0%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
11.7%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
11.1%
U.S. 12.8% -1.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
17.4%
U.S. 11.1% +6.3 pts
Cities near Imperial
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| El CentroCity | 4.6 mi | 12.1 |
| El Centro Naval Air FacilityCensus-designated place | 6.1 mi | 4.2 |
| SeeleyCensus-designated place | 7.9 mi | 1.4 |
| HeberCensus-designated place | 8.1 mi | 1.4 |
| BrawleyCity | 9.3 mi | 8.1 |
| HoltvilleCity | 11 mi | 1.1 |
| CalexicoCity | 12 mi | 8.5 |
| WestmorlandCity | 14 mi | 0.6 |
| CalipatriaCity | 23 mi | 3.7 |
| OcotilloCensus-designated place | 27 mi | 8.9 |
| NilandCensus-designated place | 27 mi | 0.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Imperial, CA in?
- Imperial is in Imperial County, California.
- What is the population of Imperial, CA?
- About 21,430 people live in Imperial, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Imperial?
- Nearby places include El Centro (4.6 mi), El Centro Naval Air Facility (6.1 mi), Seeley (7.9 mi), Heber (8.1 mi), Brawley (9.3 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023