Imperial County Area Home Supply Charts

This page looks at a variety of Imperial County California housing market data taken from the most recent 2022 American Community Survey census data. Housing units are structures such as a single family home, apartment community, mobile home park, public housing, etc. where a person or family live and live separately from other residents of the building. Figure 1 shows the total number of housing units for each city. Imperial County shows it has a Housing Units of 56,636 which is the second smallest when ranked by housing units of all the other counties in the surrounding region.

Figure 2 illustrates the housing density in the Imperial County housing market as measured by housing units per square land mile (includes single family homes, apartments, etc.) Imperial County depicts it has a Housing Density of 13.6 which is the second smallest when sorted by housing density of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest housing density in the area is Orange County which shows a density of 1418.5 ( appreciably bigger). Comparing housing density to the United States average of 39.5, Imperial County is approximately a third the size. Also, compared with the state of California, housing density of 92.1, Imperial County is approximately a sixth the size.

In Figure 4, Imperial County area change in the number of housing units and is a forward gauge (along with population change) for any potential housing shortage. Imperial County depicts it has a Housing Unit Change of 1.0% which is the second smallest in order of change in the housing units of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest change in the housing units in the area is Orange County which depicts a housing units of 6.9% ( appreciably bigger). Comparing change in the housing units to the United States average of 7.4%, Imperial County is approximately an eigth the size. Also, measured against the state of California, change in the housing units of 4.7%, Imperial County is approximately a fifth the size.

Figure 5 shows the percentage of rental property based on that they are occupied by renters as a percent of the total number of households in the community (including homes, apartments, etc.) Imperial County shows it has a Renter Percent of 42.0% which is the third most renter percent of all other counties in the greater Imperial County region. Figure 6 illustrates the total number of housing units that are occupied by owners. it has a Owner Percent of 58.0% which is less than most other counties in the greater region.

Imperial County Home Cost Charts

Looking at the housing data provided in Figure 7, the average Imperial County home price is illustrated for this community and a useful analysis of affordable housing. Imperial County depicts it has a Median Home Value of $219,800 which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest median home price in the area is Orange County which shows a home price of $738,100 (approximately 3.4 times bigger). Figure 8 provides aggregate comparative data for the Imperial County California metro area in terms of the median housing rental rate, apartment rent, etc. Imperial County depicts it has a Median Gross Rent of $892 which is the second smallest when ranked by rental rates of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest rental rates in the area is Orange County which depicts a rental rates of $2,057 (approximately 2.3 times bigger). Comparing rental rates to the United States average of $1,163, Imperial County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of California, rental rates of $1,698, Imperial County is approximately half the size.

Figure 9 provides the frequency distribution of home prices for the area and is useful for understanding affordable housing fund. Imperial County has one of the largest proportions of home price worth less than $50,000 at 4% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Yuma County (15%), and #1 La Paz County (19%) are larger. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of home price worth between $50,000 to $100,000 at 30% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Yuma County with 43%. Third, it has the largest proportion of home price worth between $100,000 to $200,000 at 34% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the second smallest when ranked by home price worth less than $50,000 of all the other counties in the surrounding region in terms of home price worth between $400,000 to $500,000 at 3% of the total. In addition, it has less than most other counties in the area when sorted by home price worth between $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 at 1% of the total. Furthermore, it has less than most other counties in the metropolitan area when sorted by home price worth between $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 at 1% of the total.

Median owner costs for the real estate market are shown in Figure 10 and include the costs associated with any mortgage, utility expenses, insurance, and other miscellaneous costs. Imperial County depicts it has a Median Owner Cost of $1,124 which is less than most other counties in the local area. Figure 11 shows the median amount of cost as a percent of total household income for people who own homes in the Imperial County metro area. it has a Owner Cost as % of HH Income of 20% which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The next chart, Figure 12, provides a comparison chart of the median home cost as a percent of a median worker take home earnings and is thus a valuable measure of affordable housing. Imperial County depicts it has a Median Home Value as Percent of Median Earnings of 489% which is less than most other counties in the metro area.

Figure 14 depicts the median cost of housing for owners with also have a mortgages (versus those who do not have a mortgage because mortgage cost is included.) Imperial County depicts it has a Median Owner Costs-With Mortgage of $1,554 which is less than most other counties in the metro area. Figure 15 is a chart that shows the median housing costs for owners who do not have mortgages (and therefore the cost of home ownership does not include mortgage cost.) it has a Median Owner Costs-Without Mortgage of $493 which is less than most other counties in the local area.

Figure 16 shows the distribution in total housing cost for owners of property (so not renters.) This cost includes mortgages, lines of credit interest, utilities, taxes, insurance, etc. Imperial County has one of the largest proportions of owner cost less than $300 at 15% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Yuma County (21%), and #1 La Paz County (27%) are larger. Second, it has the largest proportion of owner cost between $300 and $500 at 12% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of owner cost between $700 and $1,000 at 23% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has one of the largest proportions of owner cost between $1,000 and $1,500 at 18% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being San Bernardino County with 18%. In addition, it has less than most other counties in the area in order of owner cost between $3,500 and $4,000 at 1% of the total.

Next shown in Figure 17 is the housing cost as a percent of household income for people who own their homes and have a mortgages (thus the cost of financing the home is included.) Imperial County shows it has a % of Income Owner Costs-With Mortgage of 24% which is less than most other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest cost as a percent of household income in the area is San Diego County which shows a cost as a percent of household income of 26% (7.1% larger). Housing cost as a percent of household income for owners who do not have a mortgage is shown in Figure 18. This analysis can be useful for understanding the affordable housing for home ownership excluding any financing cost in the area shown. Imperial County depicts it has a % of Income Owner Costs-No Mortgage of 12% which is the second most of all the counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest cost as a percent of household income in the area is Riverside County which depicts a cost as a percent of household income of 12% (only about 4.2% larger).

Figure 19 looks at the cost of rent for rental property using the percent of total household income which is a valuable measure of financial health for the area. (The higher the proportion of rent payments to total household income is a sign of greater financial stress. Also, rent can be covered by rent assistance and rent assistance programs in the form of rent assistance.) Imperial County has one of the largest proportions of rent as a percent of income is less than 10 pct at 17% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Yuma County (26%), and #1 La Paz County (26%) are larger. Second, it has the largest proportion of rent as a percent of income is between 20pct to 30pct at 18% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has less than most other counties in the greater region when sorted by rent as a percent of income is between 40pct to 50pct at 26% of the total.

Figure 20 shows the total housing cost for both home owners and apartment community renters in the area. Imperial County has the largest proportion of housing cost between $500 and $700 at 20% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of housing cost between $700 and $1,000 at 25% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 21 shows median amount of real estate taxes paid for home owners in the region. it has a Median Real Estate Taxes Paid of $1,931 which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median real estate taxes paid in the area is Orange County which depicts a taxes paid of $5,304 (approximately 2.7 times bigger). Comparing median real estate taxes paid to the United States average of $2,690, Imperial County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of California, median real estate taxes paid of $4,279, Imperial County is approximately half the size.

Figure 22 shows the percentage of renters who pay for utilities in Imperial County California. This is calculated as the percent of renters who pay separately for utilities versus the people who have utilities included as part of amenities. Imperial County has the smallest proportion of pay extra for utilities at 4% of the total.

Figure 23 shows the rental rate distribution for this area. Imperial County California has one of the largest proportions of rent between 300 and 500 dollars at 19% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Yuma County (22%), and #1 La Paz County (27%) are larger. Second, it has the largest proportion of rent between 500 and 750 dollars at 26% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has less than most other counties in the metro area when ranked by rent between 1000 and 1500 dollars at 9% of the total. Also, it has the second smallest as measured by rent less than 300 dollars of all the other counties in the area when sorted by rent between $1,500 and $2,500 at 0% of the total.

Imperial County Home Financing Charts

The analysis in Figure 25 shows the detailed distribution of owned homes by mortgage status. Imperial County has the largest proportion of Mortgage and 2nd Mortgage at 1% of the total and is ranked #1.

Imperial County Home Characteristics Charts

Figure 28 shows the household size for families living in the area and it has a Family size of 4.6 which is at the top of all other counties in the greater Imperial County region. Comparing family members per housing unit to the United States average of 3.3, Imperial County is 39.3% larger. Also, compared to the state of California, family members per housing unit of 3.6, Imperial County is 26.6% larger.

Figure 29 show the median number of rooms in a typical home for each location in this area. it has a Median Number of Rooms of 5.0 which is in the mid range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest average number of rooms in a house in the area is Riverside County which depicts an average number of rooms in a house of 5.5 (10.0% larger). Figure 30 shows, for the average house in each location, the median year that a house was built. This can be useful for understanding the relative age of one neighborhood versus another for a real estate investor. it has a Median Year Built of 1989 which is the second most year built of all the counties in the greater Imperial County region. The county with the highest year built in the area is Yuma County which depicts a year built of 1993 ( about the same size).

Figure 31 looks at the distribution of housing units by the median age that the homes were built. it has one of the largest proportions of homes built between 2010 to 2019 at 21% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Riverside County (25%), and #1 Yuma County (26%) are larger. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of homes built between 2000 to 2009 at 20% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Yuma County with 21%. Third, it has the smallest proportion of homes built between 1990 to 1999 at 14% of the total.

Figure 32 shows the difference in the number of housing units based on whether they are occupied by owners versus occupied by renters. has the percentage of owner housing units the second smallest in terms of owner-occupied housing units of all the other counties in the local area at 19,149 of the total.

Figure 33 shows the difference in the number of housing units based on whether they are occupied by owners or renters. it has the largest proportion of one unit attached at 3% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of 3 or 4 units at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of 50 or more units at 10% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Yuma County (30%), and #1 La Paz County (55%) are larger.

Figure 34 shows the median value of homes broken down by the median year that the homes were built. has the percentage of value of homes built 2014 or later less than most other counties in the metro area at $286,600 of the total. Second, it has less than most other counties in the metro area when sorted by value of homes built 2010 to 2013 at $253,300 of the total. Third, it has less than most other counties in the surrounding region when sorted by value of homes built 2000 to 2009 at $218,300 of the total. Also, it has less than most other counties in the greater region in terms of value of homes built 1990 to 1999 at $204,300 of the total. In addition, it has less than most other counties in the metro area as measured by value of homes built 1980 to 1989 at $182,400 of the total. Furthermore, it has less than most other counties in the local area in order of value of homes built 1970 to 1979 at $192,300 of the total. Next it has less than most other counties in the local area in terms of value of homes built 1960 to 1969 at $193,700 of the total. Additionally, it has less than most other counties in the surrounding region in terms of value of homes built 1950 to 1959 at $201,000 of the total. And then, it has less than most other counties in the area when ranked by value of homes built 1940 to 1949 at $204,500 of the total.

The next two charts show both the average household size of homeowners versus the average household size of renters. Starting with Figure 36 we see the household size of homeowners for Imperial County residents. it has a Owner-Household Size of 3.8 which is the largest of all counties in the greater Imperial County region.

Figure 37 shows the household size for renters. Imperial County shows it has a Renter-Household Size of 3.7 which is more than all other counties in the greater Imperial County region. Figure 38 shows the year that people who own homes moved into this region. has the percentage of owners moved in 2019 or later the second smallest in terms of owners moved in 2019 or later of all the other counties in the greater region at 19% of the total. Figure 39 shows the year that people who rent moved into the area. Imperial County has the percentage of renters moved in 2019 or later the second smallest when sorted by renters moved in 2019 or later of all the other counties in the metro area at 38% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of renters moved in 2015 to 2018 at 26% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 40 compares the median year that home owners moved into their home. it has a Owner Median Year Moved In of 2007 which is in the mid range of other counties in the metro area. Figure 41 compares the median year that renters moved into their home. Imperial County shows it has a Renter Median Year Moved In of 2015 which is the smallest in terms of median year that a renter moved in of all the other counties in the greater region.

Figure 42 shows the frequency distribution of various types of energy sources used for homes in the community. it has one of the largest proportions of home using bottled, tank, or lp gas at 55% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 La Paz County (68%), and #1 Yuma County (70%) are larger. Second, it has the smallest proportion of home using electricity at 0% of the total. Third, it has the second smallest in terms of homes using natural gas of all the other counties in the greater region in terms of homes using solar energy at 0% of the total.

The next two charts show the number of people living in group quarters and includes temporary as well permanent housing which may be run by the Imperial County housing department, California department, or other housing authority or public housing agency. beginning with Figure 43 which shows the total number of people. Imperial County shows it has a Total In Group Quarters of 10,137 which is less than most other counties in the metro area.