Imperial is a city in Imperial County, California, home to about 21,430 people across 6.3 square miles. Its ZIP code is 92251.
Homes sold for a median of $269 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Imperial. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Imperial’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)87 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Imperial County Airport (IPL)1 mile away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Chula Vista, CA85 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | San Diego, CA90 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Imperial; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Imperial had 20,263 residents in the 2020 census, up 168% since 2000.
It’s the 339th largest of 1,563 towns in California by population.
Imperial County grew from 13,591 residents in 1910 to 179,702 in 2020.
Imperial County, 1910–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 105°F in summer, and winter lows average 42°F. About 2.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Imperial, CA weather station (about a mile away).
34,323 jobs at 2,677 businesses in Imperial County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
60 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Imperial.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 3 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 5 |
| Dentists | 16 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 17 |
| Mental health providers | 16 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 1 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 1 |
| Pharmacies | 3 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (6 nearby)
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Pharmacies
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Established in 1904.
Colleges and universities
Notable people born here
Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.
Public schools here are run by Imperial Unified. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Hulse ElementaryImperial | K–5 | 838 | Public | 0.2 mi |
| Imperial Cross ElementaryImperial | K–5 | 760 | Public | 1.7 mi |
| T. L. Waggoner ElementaryImperial | K–5 | 613 | Public | 2.0 mi |
| Frank M. Wright MiddleImperial | 6–8 | 1,116 | Public | 0.6 mi |
| Imperial Ave. Holbrook HighImperial | 9–12 | 28 | Alternative Education | 0.3 mi |
| Imperial HighImperial | 9–12 | 1,439 | Public | 0.1 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faith AcademyImperial | K–8 | 106 | Assembly of God | 0.3 mi |
| Valley Christian Heritage SchoolImperial | 7–12 | 8 | Baptist | 1.7 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.