Checked
Imperial County, CA
18 cities and towns and 16 ZIP codes in Imperial County, California.
Population
180,202
Land area
4,176sq mi
People per sq mi
43
ZIP codes
16
Cities and towns in Imperial County
Imperial County at a glance
- Imperial County is 83% less dense than California as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $57,681 a year, 42% less than the California figure of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $309,600 (58% below California) and median rent is $1,056 a month.
- The biggest population centers are El Centro (44,240), Calexico (38,585) and Brawley (27,283).
Local data for Imperial County, CA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals2
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes3
- Schools84
- Colleges3
- Libraries12
- Banks9
- Post Offices12
- Parks87
- Grocery Stores68
- Restaurants370
- Affordable Housing14
- Home Health Agencies5
- Hospice Care3
- Dialysis Centers5
- Community Health Centers8
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment8
- Private Schools8
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools2
- Superfund Sites1
- Toxic Release Facilities5
- Historic Places5
Housing and community stats
Imperial County, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$57,681
Poverty rate
19.5%
Median home value
$309,600
Prices +7.3% in a year
Median rent
$1,056/mo
Homeownership
56.8%
Bachelor's or higher
16.1%
Median age
33.2
Average commute
22.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (149,370), Irish Americans (3,134), German Americans (3,125).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
20.8%
Sep 2026, -0.8 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
PPP loans
$200M
2,325 loans, 28,995 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$301K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Imperial County, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.0%
- Carpooled8.8%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked2.6%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.8%
- Worked from home7.2%
Average one-way commute: 22.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Imperial County, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: earthquake
Storm events since 1996
571
Most often 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
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Imperial County, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
34.7%
U.S. 33.3% +1.4 pts
Diabetes
15.0%
U.S. 12.1% +2.9 pts
Smoking
12.9%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
22.1%
U.S. 11.1% +11.0 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Imperial County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Imperial County, CA?
- El Centro is the largest city or town in Imperial County, with about 44,240 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Imperial County?
- Imperial County includes 16 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 92004, 92222, 92227, 92231, 92233.
- What is the population of Imperial County, CA?
- About 180,202 people live in Imperial County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Imperial County?
- Imperial County borders San Diego County, Riverside County, Yuma County, AZ, La Paz County, AZ.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023