1st Advantage MortgageAbout 57% of Imperial County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $57,681. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Imperial County at a glance
- Jobs and commutes in Imperial County
- How much Imperial County households make
- Housing costs in Imperial County
- The counties around Imperial County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Imperial County
- Imperial County households compared
- Reading the Imperial County data as a borrower
- Budget math at the Imperial County median
- Checking a lender's license in California
- Steps before you apply in Imperial County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Imperial County at a glance
Roughly 180,202 residents live in Imperial County, California, 31st by population among the state's 58 counties and county equivalents. It covers 4,176 square miles of land, or about 43 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the El Centro, CA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. El Centro is the biggest of its 18 Census places, at roughly 44,240 people (25% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Imperial County
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Compared with California, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (10% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Imperial County averages 12.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). 9% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Imperial County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.3% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 10.0% | +5.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.8% | +7.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | -0.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.6% | +1.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
How much Imperial County households make
Imperial County households have a median income of $57,681 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 57th of 58 in California.
| Households earning | Imperial County | +/- vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.1% | +13.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | +8.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.3% | -6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.6% | -14.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 28% of Imperial County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. Census counts 19.5% of Imperial County residents in poverty, against 12.0% across California. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.466 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Imperial County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Housing costs in Imperial County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,056 in Imperial County versus $2,036 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $309,600, about 5.4 times the median household income. 57% of Imperial County households own their home and 43% rent. The median year built is 1988.
| Cost | Imperial County | California figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,056/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $309,600 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 57% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 38% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 7% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The counties around Imperial County
Six nearby counties, 60 to 146 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $49,478 in La Paz County to $116,289 in Orange County; 5 of these neighbors top Imperial County's median. Some neighbors are in Arizona. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Imperial County resident follows California rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial County | - | $57,681 | $1,056/mo | 57% |
| Riverside County, CA | 60 mi | $93,074 | $1,901/mo | 69% |
| San Diego County, CA | 82 mi | $106,268 | $2,246/mo | 55% |
| Yuma County, AZ | 86 mi | $62,876 | $993/mo | 71% |
| La Paz County, AZ | 90 mi | $49,478 | $802/mo | 72% |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 134 mi | $85,478 | $1,801/mo | 62% |
| Orange County, CA | 146 mi | $116,289 | $2,434/mo | 56% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Imperial County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 18 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 91% of Imperial County residents live in one of the 18. Imperial has the highest median household income on the list ($90,195) and Westmorland the lowest ($28,839), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $793 in Westmorland to $1,372 in Salton City. This guide covers each of the 18 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro | city | 44,240 | $53,082 | $1,052 | 21 mi |
| Calexico | city | 38,585 | $49,783 | $1,093 | 26 mi |
| Brawley | city | 27,283 | $59,311 | $988 | 11 mi |
| Imperial | city | 21,430 | $90,195 | $1,255 | 19 mi |
| Heber | CDP | 7,312 | $72,028 | $1,086 | 24 mi |
| Calipatria | city | 6,548 | $53,299 | $919 | 12 mi |
| Salton City | CDP | 5,988 | $47,827 | $1,372 | 39 mi |
| Holtville | city | 5,617 | $65,039 | $861 | 16 mi |
| Westmorland | city | 1,844 | $28,839 | $793 | 15 mi |
| Seeley | CDP | 1,182 | $62,841 | $1,100 | 26 mi |
| Niland | CDP | 1,116 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Desert Shores | CDP | 801 | $37,212 | n/a | 47 mi |
| Salton Sea Beach | CDP | 453 | $35,341 | n/a | 44 mi |
| El Centro Naval Air Facility | CDP | 443 | $69,063 | $1,741 | 23 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Imperial County households compared
16% of Imperial County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Imperial County | All of California | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.1% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 28.5% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.1% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.5% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 12.5% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 36.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.9% |
Reading the Imperial County data as a borrower
Based on the Imperial County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 20% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Rent squeeze. 53% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Budget math at the Imperial County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Imperial County's medians:
- Start: $4,807 gross per month ($57,681 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $1,056, takes 22% of that
- Under a 43% cap, $2,067 total minus rent leaves $1,011
Two-income households and single earners in Imperial County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Checking a lender's license in California
Consumer lenders serving Imperial County are licensed by the state, not the county; in California that is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The California guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in Imperial County
Quick steps for Imperial County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Imperial County-area credit union.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Imperial County household make?
About $57,681 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 42% below the California median.
How does Imperial County rent compare with California?
$1,056 locally versus $2,036 for the state, 48% below.
What are the biggest places in Imperial County?
By population: El Centro, Calexico, Brawley, Imperial, Heber. The county has 18 Census places in all.
Can Imperial County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every California county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for Imperial County residents?
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation licenses consumer lenders in California; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.