Imperial County, CA Local Data & Statistics

State: CA

Total population: 180,202 Household income: $57,681 Rent: $1,056

Overview

Total population

180,202

Rent

$1,056

Year built

1988

Household income

$57,681

Per capita income

$23,552

Poverty rate

19.5%

Unemployment rate

18.5%

Household size

3.5 persons

Rent over 30% of income

49.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

California

Total population

180,202

Adults over 25

111,419

Total households

49,644

Household size

3.5 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$57,681

Per capita income

$23,552

Poverty rate

19.5%

Unemployment rate

18.5%

Rent over 30% of income

49.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,056

Year built

1988

Households that rent

43.2%

Households that own

56.8%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.9

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

19.8%

Black

2.2%

Asian

1.5%

Two or more races

33.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

86%

Not Hispanic or Latino

14%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

92.8%

Commute time to work

22 mins

Work from home

7.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

42.4%

High school graduate or GED

25.7%

Some college or associate degree

15.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

16.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Imperial County, CA with: California United States

Imperial County, CA

Total population180,202

Rent$1,056

Year built1988

Household income$57,681

Per capita income$23,552

Poverty rate19.5%

Unemployment rate18.5%

California State

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CountyImperial County, CA	StateCalifornia	CountryUnited States
Total population	180,202	39,287,377	334,922,499
Rent	$1,056	$2,036	$1,413
Year built	1988	1976	1980
Household income	$57,681	$99,122	$80,734
Per capita income	$23,552	$49,513	$44,673
Poverty rate	19.5%	12%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	18.5%	5.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Imperial County, CA, California and United States →

Summary for Imperial County, CA

Imperial County is located in California .

Rent & Income

In Imperial County, the monthly rent is $1,056 and household income is $57,681. Rent is lower than both California and the U.S., and household income is lower than both California and the U.S. The poverty rate is 19.5%, which is higher than both California and the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 43.2% of households. About 49.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is relatively low, with about 16.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 18.5%, which is higher than both California and the national rate.

Imperial County, CA — Rent vs Household Income

Imperial County, CA — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Imperial County, CA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,056 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Imperial County, CA

Annual Household Income: $57,681

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Imperial County, CA

Estimated Rate: 19.5%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Imperial County, CA

In Imperial County, CA, households that rent: 21,434 (43.2%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	21,434	43.2%
Owner-Occupied	28,210	56.8%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Imperial County, CA

In Imperial County, CA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 10,634 (49.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	10,634	49.6%
Other renter households	10,800	50.4%
Total renter households	21,434	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Imperial County, CA

Less than High School: 47,290 people (42.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 28,598 people (25.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 17,629 people (15.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 17,902 people (16.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 111,419

📊 Unemployment Rate in Imperial County, CA

Estimated Rate: 18.5%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.