HomeCaliforniaImperial County
Imperial County, California: commercial real estate data.
Imperial County, California had an estimated 181,724 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 179,710, across 4,177 square miles. County output reached $12.91 bn in 2024, 2,677 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 112 7(a) approvals worth $107.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Imperial County
How many people live in Imperial County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024180,202
- Households49,644
- Average household size3.63
- Median household income$57,681
- Median age33.2
- Median gross rent$1,056 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$309,600
- Home value to household income5.4 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income22.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree4.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over111,419
- Population under 1851,054
- Share under 1828.3 percent
- Population 65 and over24,701
- Share 65 and over13.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64104,447
- Civilian labor force71,192
- Unemployment rate12.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over55.1 percent
- Rank by population among California counties31st of 58
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included381st of 3,222
Imperial County is the 31st largest of 58 California counties by population. A median home costs 5.4 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 28.3 percent against 13.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Imperial County
Is Imperial County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024181,724
- Census 2020 base population179,710
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.12 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,139
- Births, 20242,372
- Deaths, 20241,389
- Natural change, 2024983
- Net domestic migration, 2024-1,196
- Net international migration, 20241,350
- Total net migration, 2024154
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-5,144
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1436th of 3,144
The county has grown 1.12 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Imperial County
Where are people moving to Imperial County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,564
- People arriving, from those returns4,739
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,207
- Net household movement-643
- Adjusted gross income arriving$104.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-39.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$40,926
- Average income of a leaving household$44,966
- Largest single originSan Diego County (529 households)
- Largest single destinationSan Diego County (627 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego County | 529 | 926 | $27.4 m |
| Riverside County | 456 | 946 | $16.5 m |
| Los Angeles County | 193 | 327 | $7.7 m |
| Yuma County | 191 | 359 | $5.9 m |
| Maricopa County | 98 | 192 | $3.4 m |
| San Bernardino County | 91 | 196 | $4.2 m |
| Orange County | 55 | 93 | $1.9 m |
| Monterey County | 50 | 96 | $1.9 m |
Households arriving report $4,040 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is San Diego County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Imperial County
What is the Imperial County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$12.91 bn
- County GDP, 2023$12.93 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 2024-0.2 percent
- GDP change over five years40.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the California areas BEA publishes29th of 58
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes360th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$71,628
Output grew -0.2 percent in the latest year and 40.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Imperial County
Employment by industry in Imperial County
- Covered employment, annual average67,166
- Establishments reporting9,795
- Average annual pay$54,639
- Average weekly wage$1,051
- Health care and social assistance, employment11,067
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$34,025
- Retail trade, employment8,192
- Retail trade, average annual pay$35,892
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,228
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$28,015
- Manufacturing, employment2,197
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$64,041
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment2,064
- Transportation and warehousing, employment1,967
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 11,067 | 6,881 | $34,025 |
| Retail trade | 8,192 | 444 | $35,892 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,228 | 262 | $28,015 |
| Manufacturing | 2,197 | 68 | $64,041 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,064 | 138 | $49,646 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,967 | 255 | $58,577 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,757 | 198 | $72,062 |
| Construction | 1,719 | 193 | $66,705 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 11,067 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Imperial County
How many businesses are in Imperial County?
- Establishments, all industries2,677
- Employment at those establishments34,323
- Annual payroll$1.61 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents14.9
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Imperial County
Building permits in Imperial County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024253
- Declared construction value permitted$39.0 m
- Single family units authorized153
- Multifamily units authorized100
- Multifamily share of units39.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$154,269
- Units authorized per 1,000 households5.1
Single-family homes are 60.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Imperial County
SBA loans in Imperial County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded112
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$107.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$955,871
- Median 7(a) approval$350,000
- 10th percentile approval$15,500
- 90th percentile approval$3,105,100
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,437
- Jobs per approval12.8
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active38
- Distinct industries receiving approvals59
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer41.1 percent
- Loans on real estate terms46
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter64
- Franchise loans19
- Franchise share of approvals17.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (7)
- 504 approvals recorded49
- 504 gross approval dollars$50.8 m
- Average 504 approval$1,037,551
- Median 504 approval$621,000
- Distinct CDCs active8
- 504 jobs per approval17.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved16.4
- Most active CDCCDC Small Business Finance Corp. (24)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$157.9 m
The average approval of $955,871 sits well above the median of $350,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 41.1 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Imperial County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Imperial County
Do SBA loans in Imperial County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded36
- Paid in full33
- Charged off3
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans8.3 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure59
- Status: Cancelled11
- Status: Paid in full33
- Status: Charged off3
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed6
Of the 36 loans that have reached a final outcome, 8.3 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Imperial County
SBA lending by place in Imperial County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending12
- El Centro, approvals44
- Imperial, approvals22
- Calexico, approvals17
- Brawley, approvals16
- Holtville, approvals4
- Thermal, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| El Centro | 44 | $42,371,200 |
| Imperial | 22 | $22,384,800 |
| Calexico | 17 | $13,675,100 |
| Brawley | 16 | $17,642,000 |
| Holtville | 4 | $3,670,000 |
| Thermal | 3 | $6,008,000 |
| Palo Verde | 1 | $510,000 |
| Corona | 1 | $474,500 |
| 4 other borrower cities | 4 | $321,900 |
El Centro accounts for 44 approvals against 22 in Imperial. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Imperial County
How large is Imperial County?
- Land area4,177 sq mi
- Rank by land area among California counties10th of 58
- Width, east to west95.3 mi
- Height, north to south56.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary4
- Residents per square mile of land43
- Establishments per square mile0.64
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Imperial County
Flood risk in Imperial County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Imperial County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 060065
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book8
- Of those, participating in the NFIP8
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Imperial County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Imperial County (community 060065), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Imperial County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Imperial County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Imperial County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024180,202
- Households49,644
- Average household size3.63
- Median household income$57,681
- Median age33.2
Common questions
Imperial County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Imperial County, California?
The Census Bureau estimates 181,724 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 180,202, in 49,644 households, ranking 31st of 58 California counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Imperial County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.12 percent since the 2020 census base of 179,710, to 181,724 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 2,372 births against 1,389 deaths, with net migration of 154. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Imperial County?
$57,681. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $309,600, which is 5.4 times income, and median gross rent is $1,056 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Imperial County?
2,677 establishments, employing 34,323 people with an annual payroll of $1.61 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Imperial County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 11,067 jobs, 16.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 67,166 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,639, or $1,051 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Imperial County?
112 7(a) approvals totaling $107.1 m since FY2020, across 38 lenders, with a median approval of $350,000, plus 49 504 approvals worth $50.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Imperial County get paid back?
Of the 36 loans that have reached a final outcome, 33 were paid in full and 3 charged off, a charge-off rate of 8.3 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Imperial County?
253 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $39.0 m. Multifamily was 39.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Imperial County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Imperial County come from?
The largest single origin is San Diego County, with 529 households. Arriving households report an average income of $40,926 against $44,966 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Imperial County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Imperial County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Imperial County
Cities and places in Imperial.
18 Census places lie wholly or partly in Imperial County. All 18 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro | city | 44,240 | 44 | Wholly in this county |
| Calexico | city | 38,585 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Brawley | city | 27,283 | 16 | Wholly in this county |
| Imperial | city | 21,430 | 22 | Wholly in this county |
| Heber | CDP | 7,312 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Calipatria | city | 6,548 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Salton City | CDP | 5,988 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Holtville | city | 5,617 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Westmorland | city | 1,844 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Seeley | CDP | 1,182 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Niland | CDP | 1,116 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Desert Shores | CDP | 801 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Salton Sea Beach | CDP | 453 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| El Centro Naval Air Facility | CDP | 443 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bombay Beach | CDP | 356 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Winterhaven | CDP | 234 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Ocotillo | CDP | 118 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Palo Verde | CDP | 75 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 5 of the county's 112 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Imperial County, the largest being Thermal (3), Corona (1), Yuma (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby