Population 25,473 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Imperial: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Imperial
Household size in Imperial
| Period | Imperial | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.28 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.39 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.73 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.76 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.49 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Imperial are large by national standards, averaging 3.76 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Household size has climbed from 3.28 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 66 have larger households.
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
| Period | Imperial | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.5 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 29.8 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 30.4 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.1 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 30.4, Imperial is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. The median age has dropped from 31.5 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. Only 28 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people are younger.
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
| Period | Imperial | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.0% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.6% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 16.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Imperial: 16.5% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.5 points, even as the national share fell. Imperial has a higher share of single-parent households than at least four in five 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
Renters in Imperial
| Period | Imperial | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.1% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.3% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly three in ten households in Imperial rent their homes (28.3%), a little below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 25.9% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the west. The renter share is down 3.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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
| Period | Imperial | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.1% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Imperial than nationally: 12.1%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 1.2 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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
| Period | Imperial | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1995 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1996 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1995 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1999 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Imperial is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1999, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1995 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center. Only 29 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have newer homes.
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
| Period | Imperial | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $758 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $981 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,390 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,840 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,083 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Imperial costs $1,840 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in California overall ($2,229). Rent has climbed $1,083 a month since 2006–10, up 143%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 30.5% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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
Bachelor's degrees in Imperial
| Period | Imperial | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.1% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Imperial: 22.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 1.9 points, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the center.
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
| Period | Imperial | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 76.3% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 82.4% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 80.9% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in Imperial never finished high school, well above the national share: only 80.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 4.7 points, as it has nationally.
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
| Period | Imperial | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.0% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs high in Imperial: 6.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment is down 7.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 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 | 3.76 | 30.4 | 16.5% | 28.3% | 12.1% | 1999 | $1,840 | 22.6% | 80.9% | 6.9% |
| El Centro | 3.37 | 33.2 | 16.4% | 49.9% | 13.2% | 1982 | $1,291 | 16.4% | 73.3% | 10.1% |
| Meloland | 3.72 | 32.3 | 22.2% | 28.2% | 10.4% | 2002 | $1,324 | 28.1% | 85.4% | 6.3% |
| Heber | 4.15 | 32.3 | 20.0% | 31.5% | 11.2% | 1996 | $1,370 | 23.6% | 80.5% | 8.5% |
| Brawley | 3.49 | 31.6 | 21.1% | 48.4% | 11.0% | 1986 | $1,014 | 16.4% | 74.3% | 12.0% |
| Seeley | 2.63 | 36.0 | 14.3% | 38.6% | 42.4% | 1996 | $1,268 | 4.8% | 67.8% | 23.3% |
| Holtville | 3.54 | 37.8 | 8.7% | 46.5% | 13.8% | 1979 | $972 | 19.5% | 77.0% | 7.3% |
| Date City | 3.53 | 47.5 | 1.6% | 46.1% | 8.9% | 1980 | $1,246 | 22.0% | 94.1% | 0.6% |
| Plaster City | 2.47 | 35.7 | 1.2% | 26.6% | 48.8% | 2000 | $1,337 | 3.1% | 60.5% | 27.8% |
| Ocotillo | 2.47 | 35.7 | 1.2% | 26.6% | 48.8% | 2000 | $1,337 | 3.1% | 60.5% | 27.8% |
| Live Oak Springs | 2.89 | 47.1 | 5.0% | 13.5% | 5.9% | 1985 | $1,227 | 15.5% | 89.7% | 1.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: South Burlington, VT · Frankfort, IL · Frankfort, IN · Gardner, MA · Gatesville, TX · Georgetown, SC · Grayslake, IL · Shafter, CA · Smithfield, NC · Somerville, NJ
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. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.