Imperial County, California Housing Market Prices
Imperial County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 60% below the California median Cheaper than 89% of counties in California$263,087
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Median rent 48% below the California median Among the top 5 cheapest counties in California$1,056
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Imperial County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $263,087 | $650,794 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 16.4% | 8.9% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,056 | $2,036 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 3.9% | 5.8% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Imperial County is about 60% lower than in California. Rent is about 48% lower than the California average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Imperial County, up about 16.4% and 3.9% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Imperial County rose about 37.9% between 2015 and 2024, from $766 to $1,056. Over the same span, rent in California rose about 62.2%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 4.6 yearly household incomes in Imperial County.
Buying the median-priced home in Imperial County costs roughly 20.8 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Imperial County. The price-to-rent ratio in California is about 26.6.
| Metric | Imperial County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $263,087 | $650,794 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $57,720 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 4.6 | 6.6 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Imperial County rose about 184.4%, while median household income rose about 43.3% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Imperial County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 48.6% | 51.7% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 36.9% | 40.8% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 14.5% | 7.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 15.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2011 | 2011 | 2011 |
Imperial County has a homeownership rate of 48.6%, lower than the California average of 51.7%. Its housing vacancy rate is 14.5%, compared with 7.5% in California.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Imperial County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 3.48 people | 2.84 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1986 | 1975 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Imperial County was built around 1986. On average, 3.5 people live in a home with about 4.9 rooms, staying for about 15.0 years on average.
Imperial County, CA Housing Compared With Nearby Counties
Imperial County, CA is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 180,111 residents against a local median of 2,193,778. The measure that sets Imperial County, CA apart most is median rent: $1,056, 41% below the local median of $1,800.
Median home price tells the same story from another angle: $263,087 against a local median of $419,799, 37% below it. The one measure here that carries a verdict is homeownership, and at 18% below the local median it puts Imperial County, CA at the weaker end of the local range. The counties themselves spread $1,444 on median rent, so Imperial County, CA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Imperial County, CA has the 4th highest median rent of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median home price | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial County, CA | 180,111 | $263,087 #4/6 | $1,056 #4/6 | 56.8% #5/6 |
| Riverside County, CA | 2,477,722 | $479,061 | $1,900 | 69.1% |
| San Diego County, CA | 3,282,387 | $797,190 | $2,246 | 54.6% |
| Yuma County, AZ | 211,723 | $142,893 | $992 | 71.0% |
| La Paz County, AZ | 16,663 | $133,749 | $802 | 72.1% |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 2,193,778 | $419,799 | $1,800 | 62.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Imperial County, California.
What is the median home price in Imperial County, California?
The median home price in Imperial County, California is $263,087, lower than the California average of $650,794.
What is the average home price in Imperial County, California?
The typical home price in Imperial County, California, reported as the median sale price, is $263,087. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Imperial County, California?
The median gross rent in Imperial County, California is $1,056 per month, lower than the California average of $2,036.
What was the median gross rent in Imperial County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Imperial County, California was $846 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Imperial County, California?
The price-to-rent ratio in Imperial County, California is about 20.8, meaning it would take roughly 20.8 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Imperial County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Imperial County, California?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Imperial County, up about 16.4% and 3.9% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Imperial County, California?
48.6% of households in Imperial County, California own their home, lower than the California average of 51.7%.
What is the vacancy rate in Imperial County, California?
The housing vacancy rate in Imperial County, California is 14.5%, higher than the California average of 7.5%.
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