Cost of Living in Imperial County, California
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Imperial County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Imperial County ranks #2,495 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 21%)
Sourced county brief
Imperial County Median Gross Rent Recorded at $1,056
Imperial County median gross rent is $1,056 per month, which is $635 below the California unweighted county mean of $1,691. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 31.6%, a value that matches the official ACS B25071 metric. This is 0.1 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 31.7%. For homeowners, the median home value in the county was estimated at $309,600, compared to the California unweighted county mean of $604,112. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $1,260. The median renter-household income in Imperial County is $38,992, while the median income for all households is $57,681. These data points provide a snapshot of housing costs relative to income as reported in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Imperial County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 31.6% of renter household income in Imperial County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,056 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,260. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $42,240 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. Imperial County's $1,056 median is 37.5% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Imperial County
Rent Burden
22.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,346
per month
Owner Cost Burden
26.2%
of gross income
The median home in Imperial County may be a stretch
Median home value is $309,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,472 vs. your max of $1,346.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Imperial County, California?
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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