Wealth Index
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Imperial Beach | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $78,144 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,285 | $68,943 | $61,726 |
| Average income growth | 7.3% | 6.0% | 5.1% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.1% | 16.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Imperial Beach is about 19% lower than in California. Income has been growing faster in Imperial Beach (7.3%/yr) than in California (6.0%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Imperial Beach earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 17%.
Median Household Income 2009–2023 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Imperial Beach, California grew by 68.1% from 2009 to 2023, reaching $78,144 in 2023. That's an average of about 7.3% per year.
Economic Inequality in Imperial Beach | Gender Pay Gap | Gini Coefficient
| Metric | Imperial Beach | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.576 | 0.596 | 0.570 |
| Male Median Income | $54,897 | $73,016 | $67,746 |
| Female Median Income | $47,097 | $63,704 | $54,793 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 14.2% | 12.8% | 19.1% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Imperial Beach, it is 0.576, lower than California's 0.596, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.570, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 17% more than women's income in Imperial Beach, California. Over a 35-year career, a 17% wage gap accumulates to roughly $273,000 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Imperial Beach, California has narrowed from about 23% to 14% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,585 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Imperial Beach | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.2% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 25 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,001 people are unemployed in Imperial Beach, California.
The average commute time in Imperial Beach is 25 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Imperial Beach, California has fallen from 12.8% to 7.0% in 2023.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Imperial Beach, California has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than California, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Imperial Beach, California.
How Wealthy Is Imperial Beach, California?
Imperial Beach has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $78,144, about 19% lower than the California average of $96,718.
What is the current median household income in Imperial Beach, California?
As of 2023, the median household income in Imperial Beach, California is $78,144.
What was the median household income in Imperial Beach in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Imperial Beach, California was $78,144.
What was the median household income in Imperial Beach in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Imperial Beach, California was $59,565.
What is the Gini coefficient in Imperial Beach, California?
The Gini coefficient in Imperial Beach is 0.576. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.570, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Imperial Beach, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Imperial Beach, California has narrowed from about 23% to 14% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $1,585 since 2009.