City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Imperial, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Imperial - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

20,943
Residents
$83,214
Median income
$344,700
Median home
$1,362
Median rent (state)

Imperial - the verdict

Nationally, Imperial sits in the 65th percentile for household income and the 94th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

65th
percentile, household income
71st
percentile, home value
52nd
percentile, median rent
94th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Imperial, CA

20,943 people live in Imperial, California - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $83,214 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.7%. Home values in Imperial run a median of $344,700, and the median resident age is 32.9 years. About 20.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 51.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 30 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 83% from five years earlier. Imperial reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 259.3 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 73.0°F with 2.8 inches of precipitation per year.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,362 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Commute times here average 16.5 minutes, with 75.1% driving alone and 9.5% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 96.5 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

20,943 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$83,214 /yr

Poverty 10.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Imperial compare to other US cities?

Where Imperial sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 65% higher than other cities
Home value 71% pricier than other cities
Median rent 52% pricier than other cities
Safety 94% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at California, Imperial ranks #2 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Imperial against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Imperial near the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Imperial ranks #1,373 - the 3rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Imperial only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#730 of 1,338
45th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1,373 of 1,458
3rd percentile in California
Median Home Value
#976 of 1,343
27th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#452 of 1,450
68th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#890 of 1,458
39th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

65thIncome percentile
94thSafety percentile

65th percentile nationally for median household income · 94th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Imperial's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Imperial's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 66 Avg. percentile National median
Imperial's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Imperial's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$344,700 29th percentile more affordable than 29% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Imperial $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Imperial, CA Imperial, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Imperial, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Imperial, CA median $83,214/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Imperial, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Imperial, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
20,943
Median Income
$83,214
Median Home Value
$344,700
Median Age
32.9
Poverty Rate
10.7%
Labor force participation
51.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.3%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
259.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
77.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
182.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
73.0°F
Annual Precipitation
2.8"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
20,000 residents21,000 residents22,000 residents23,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 20,457 residents 22,330 residents ▲ +9.2%
Imperial's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
30
housing units authorized
Single-Family
30
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 178
2020 189
2021 154
2022 139
2023 35
2024 30

Permit volume decreased 83% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
16.5 minutes
Drive Alone
75.1%
Carpool
12.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.1%
Work from Home
9.5%

Based on 7,456 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Imperial sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,362/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Rosamond
20,835 people
Shafter
20,618 people
Stevenson Ranch
21,317 people
South Lake Tahoe
21,319 people
Granite Bay
21,378 people
Lomita
20,409 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Imperial's 20,943 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Vicksburg, MS
20,944 people
Germantown, WI
20,940 people
St. Andrews, SC
20,953 people
Brushy Creek, TX
20,953 people
Fort Walton Beach, FL
20,956 people
Covington, WA
20,957 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Imperial's $83,214 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Long Creek, IL
$83,214 median income
Trafalgar, IN
$83,214 median income
Dexter, IA
$83,214 median income
York, NY
$83,214 median income
Mount Wolf, PA
$83,214 median income
Kearny, NJ
$83,212 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Imperial, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Imperial, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 37.3% 27.9% 29.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 84.3% White 37.3% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 3.9% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 27.9% Two or more races 29.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Imperial compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Imperial (this city) 20,943 $83,214
Rosamond 20,835 $77,773
Shafter 20,618 $67,989
Stevenson Ranch 21,317 $146,404
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Imperial, CA?

What is the population of Imperial, CA? +

The population of Imperial, CA stands at 20,943 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Imperial, CA? +

In Imperial, the typical household earns $83,214 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Imperial? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Imperial; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Imperial, CA safe? +

Imperial has a total crime rate of 259.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Imperial, CA? +

A typical home in Imperial is worth $344,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Imperial? +

Climate normals put Imperial's yearly average temperature at 73.0°F, 2.8 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.