Population 29,299 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Imperial
Household size in Imperial
| Period | Imperial | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.92 | 2.52 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.89 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.78 | 2.49 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.78 | 2.46 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.15 | −0.06 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Imperial average 2.78 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Household size has dropped from 2.92 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the north.
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 | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.4 | 38.5 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.9 | 39.5 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.3 | 40.7 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.9 | 40.8 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.5 | +2.3 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 39.9, the median age in Imperial is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has climbed from 33.4 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.8% | 11.7% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.5% | 11.5% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 11.0% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 11.1% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Imperial as they are nationally: 10.6%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.2 points, mirroring the country.
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 | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 28.3% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 30.1% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.5% | 31.1% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.5% | 29.6% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Imperial is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over three in ten owners (31.0%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the center.
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 | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 9.6% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 10.1% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 10.1% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 8.8% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.8 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Imperial: just 4.4% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is down 4.1 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Imperial has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of Missouri cities.
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 | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1989 | 1972 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1990 | 1972 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1990 | 1973 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1975 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
Imperial has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1989 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the east has the oldest housing.
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 | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $734 | $825 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $850 | $920 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $955 | $1,010 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,137 | $1,239 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$403 | +$414 | +$383 | +$606 |
The median renter in Imperial pays $1,137 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $403 a month since 2006–10, up 55%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.5% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the south; the most affordable are in the west.
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 | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 30.3% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 32.1% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 24.5% | 34.9% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.9% | 38.5% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +8.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Imperial than nationally: 26.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.7 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the north.
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 | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.8% | 88.8% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.0% | 90.5% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.4% | 92.1% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.1% | 93.6% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | +4.8 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Imperial is above the national rate: 94.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the St. Louis area. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 5.3 points, mirroring the country.
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 | St. Louis area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 7.7% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 8.8% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.0% | 4.9% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −3.4 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Imperial has been low: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.5 points since 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 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 | 2.78 | 39.9 | 10.6% | 16.5% | 4.4% | 1993 | $1,137 | 26.9% | 94.1% | 2.9% |
| Arnold | 2.50 | 41.5 | 10.1% | 20.0% | 6.6% | 1984 | $1,092 | 26.3% | 91.4% | 3.2% |
| Barnhart | 2.69 | 38.9 | 21.8% | 7.4% | 3.7% | 1987 | $1,342 | 26.1% | 95.8% | 2.9% |
| Merrimac | 2.76 | 43.1 | 6.8% | 18.9% | 6.4% | 2000 | $1,120 | 20.4% | 93.7% | 0.5% |
| Oakville | 2.55 | 44.3 | 6.3% | 13.9% | 2.4% | 1983 | $1,135 | 44.1% | 96.3% | 4.1% |
| House Springs | 2.79 | 41.8 | 13.3% | 12.9% | 8.1% | 1989 | $999 | 23.4% | 90.4% | 1.8% |
| Pevely | 2.59 | 36.9 | 11.0% | 23.4% | 9.8% | 1992 | $898 | 17.2% | 89.7% | 2.9% |
| High Ridge | 2.58 | 45.2 | 5.7% | 11.4% | 5.5% | 1983 | $1,057 | 27.7% | 93.6% | 2.7% |
| Murphy | 2.47 | 40.6 | 8.9% | 15.3% | 8.5% | 1982 | $1,065 | 23.9% | 91.7% | 3.8% |
| Fountain Gap | 2.77 | 44.0 | 5.9% | 14.1% | 5.0% | 1998 | $1,129 | 27.1% | 93.5% | 0.9% |
| Byrnes Mill | 2.68 | 35.1 | 14.3% | 22.3% | 6.1% | 1992 | $1,135 | 18.9% | 92.6% | 10.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Longwood, FL · Schererville, IN · Scaggsville, MD · Saugus, MA · San Ysidro, CA · Salem, NH · Ruston, LA · Roslindale, MA · Miami Lakes, FL · Mebane, NC
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.
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