Population 25,689 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Imperial Beach
Household size in Imperial Beach
| Period | Imperial Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.79 | 2.87 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.09 | 2.98 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.83 | 2.99 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.73 | 2.86 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.02 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Imperial Beach average 2.73 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is smaller than in the San Diego area overall, where it has 2.86 people. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.79, mirroring the country.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Imperial Beach
| Period | Imperial Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.3 | 36.1 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.0 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.5 | 37.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.0 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.7 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Imperial Beach is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.0, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 31.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the northeast and oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Imperial Beach
| Period | Imperial Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.3% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.5% | 11.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.9% | 10.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.0% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Imperial Beach: 17.0% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Imperial Beach has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of California cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Imperial Beach
Renters in Imperial Beach
| Period | Imperial Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.6% | 44.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 66.2% | 46.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 68.9% | 46.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 68.6% | 45.4% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.0 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Imperial Beach: 68.6% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 31.7% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the north; owners are most common in the south. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 20 have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Imperial Beach
| Period | Imperial Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.5% | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 7.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 7.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.7 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Imperial Beach is close to the national rate: 8.7% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the San Diego area as a whole (7.1%). Vacancy has fallen 7.7 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Imperial Beach
| Period | Imperial Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1977 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1978 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1979 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1972 | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Imperial Beach is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1972, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1968 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Imperial Beach
| Period | Imperial Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,147 | $1,408 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,215 | $1,481 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,542 | $1,868 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,132 | $2,468 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$985 | +$1,061 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Imperial Beach costs $2,132 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the San Diego area as a whole ($2,468). Rent has climbed $985 a month since 2006–10, up 86%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 35.6% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Imperial Beach
Bachelor's degrees in Imperial Beach
| Period | Imperial Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.7% | 33.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 34.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.0% | 38.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.6% | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.9 pts | +9.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Imperial Beach: 25.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 9.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Imperial Beach
| Period | Imperial Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.9% | 84.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 78.4% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 83.6% | 87.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.2% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Imperial Beach have finished high school as nationally: 88.2%, against 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 7.3 points, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Imperial Beach
| Period | Imperial Beach | San Diego area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 9.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 6.1% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Imperial Beach runs well above the national rate: 7.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.6 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Imperial Beach compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Beach | 2.73 | 37.0 | 17.0% | 68.6% | 8.7% | 1972 | $2,132 | 25.6% | 88.2% | 7.8% |
| San Ysidro | 3.46 | 37.2 | 16.8% | 62.5% | 7.1% | 1984 | $1,812 | 11.7% | 65.4% | 11.1% |
| Chula Vista | 3.30 | 38.0 | 14.1% | 40.9% | 6.3% | 1986 | $2,572 | 33.3% | 86.4% | 7.6% |
| National City | 3.13 | 37.4 | 18.8% | 64.2% | 8.0% | 1968 | $1,771 | 17.1% | 76.8% | 6.2% |
| Bonita | 3.02 | 44.6 | 9.2% | 22.0% | 3.0% | 1979 | $2,075 | 41.9% | 91.4% | 5.6% |
| Coronado | 2.46 | 42.8 | 14.1% | 45.4% | 20.1% | 1971 | $3,107 | 59.5% | 98.1% | 6.8% |
| Dulzura | 3.16 | 36.7 | 24.5% | 28.4% | 12.5% | 1978 | $2,107 | 17.8% | 67.7% | 4.6% |
| Tecate | 3.86 | 23.2 | 46.6% | 58.6% | 13.1% | 1983 | $2,214 | 16.5% | 38.0% | 0.0% |
| Potrero | 3.85 | 23.3 | 46.4% | 58.0% | 13.1% | 1983 | $2,246 | 16.5% | 38.2% | 0.1% |
| Canyon City | 3.77 | 24.8 | 43.4% | 51.1% | 12.8% | 1984 | $2,219 | 16.5% | 40.7% | 1.1% |
| Cameron Corners | 2.58 | 52.9 | 3.3% | 13.9% | 7.2% | 1967 | $2,045 | 29.1% | 86.1% | 8.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Hartsville, SC · Sidney, OH · Shoreview, MN · Sherwood, OR · Shelbyville, IN · Sebastopol, CA · Leisure City, FL · Lafayette, CA · Kings Mountain, NC · Inkster, MI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Imperial Beach. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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