Imperial Beach city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Imperial Beach city is a mid-sized community located in California. The total population is 25,897. It ranks as the 294th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Imperial Beach city is 35.2 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Imperial Beach city is $79,071. This is 18% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is about average. The poverty rate stands at 15.3%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.7%. This is 20% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $811,000. Housing costs are 17% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 30.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Imperial Beach city is Hispanic or Latino, making up 50.8% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 33.1%. The Asian population (6.1%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

23.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Imperial Beach city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.