County profile · California
Imperial County, CA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Imperial County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 181,411
- +1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 49,644
- Median household income
- $57,681
- +21.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $309,600
- Jobs located here
- 63,081
- Highest market score
- 79
- Pet businesses, #78 of 2,200 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Imperial County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Imperial County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 181,411 people live in Imperial County, in 49,644 households. Population estimates put the population change in Imperial County from 2020 to 2025 at +1.1%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Imperial County is $57,681 a year, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 21.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Imperial County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (76).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Imperial County are for pet businesses (79), funeral homes (75) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (73). Imperial County ranks #78 of 2,200 scored counties for pet businesses.
Imperial County is part of the El Centro metro area. For its number of households, Imperial County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for tire shops (twice the U.S. rate) and the fewest for pet businesses (65% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Imperial County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Imperial County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet businesses | 79 | #78 of 2,200 | 18 | 3.6 | $2.3M | 258 | 9 |
| Funeral homes | 75 | #142 of 1,472 | 8 | 1.6 | $1M | 153 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 73 | #149 of 1,461 | 11 | 2.2 | $3.7M | 146 | 5 |
| Chiropractors | 73 | #165 of 1,490 | 10 | 2.0 | $5.5M | 231 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 70 | #210 of 1,769 | 23 | 4.6 | $1.9M | 213 | 5 |
| Hair salons | 69 | #325 of 2,339 | 75 | 15.1 | $573K | 133 | 8 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 67 | #276 of 1,771 | 15 | 3.0 | $3.8M | 225 | 36 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 63 | #166 of 777 | 5 | 1.0 | $8.2M | 201 | 14 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 63 | #456 of 1,886 | 31 | 6.2 | $1.8M | 182 | 28 |
| Nail salons | 62 | #343 of 1,328 | 19 | 3.8 | $2.3M | 135 | 5 |
| House cleaning | 60 | #235 of 847 | 7 | 1.4 | $8.1M | 127 | 14 |
| Physical therapy | 60 | #450 of 1,422 | 21 | 4.2 | $2.6M | 110 | 9 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 59 | #708 of 2,385 | 161 | 32.4 | $267K | 125 | 19 |
| Home repair trades | 55 | #774 of 2,057 | 43 | 8.7 | $2.8M | 116 | 65 |
| Property management | 52 | #397 of 910 | 6 | 1.2 | Index only | 237 | 65 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 52 | #777 of 1,707 | 24 | 4.8 | $5M | 106 | 35 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 52 | #960 of 2,176 | 125 | 25.2 | Index only | 116 | 26 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 49 | #682 of 1,327 | 19 | 3.8 | $2.7M | 88 | 13 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 49 | #726 of 1,334 | 31 | 6.2 | $1.3M | 65 | 4 |
| Pizza | 49 | #1,058 of 2,090 | 27 | 5.4 | $6.1M | 121 | 110 |
| Car washes and detailing | 48 | #778 of 1,451 | 23 | 4.6 | $2.2M | 89 | 9 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 46 | #290 of 479 | 5 | 1.0 | $10.3M | 75 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 45 | #1,323 of 2,088 | 80 | 16.1 | $511K | 77 | 18 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 45 | #1,404 of 2,394 | 266 | 53.6 | $208K | 137 | 139 |
| Pest control | 43 | #435 of 699 | 6 | 1.2 | $9.4M | 92 | 6 |
| Gyms | 43 | #1,167 of 1,792 | 44 | 8.9 | $928K | 71 | 14 |
| Convenience stores | 41 | #1,459 of 2,261 | 66 | 13.3 | $4.1M | 52 | 10 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 40 | #624 of 887 | 28 | 5.6 | Index only | 72 | 7 |
| Electricians | 40 | #827 of 1,160 | 15 | 3.0 | $8.1M | 67 | 23 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 39 | #937 of 1,302 | 27 | 5.4 | $2.1M | 65 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 39 | #1,629 of 2,358 | 81 | 16.3 | $1.7M | 70 | 63 |
| Real estate | 39 | #1,680 of 2,229 | 163 | 32.8 | Index only | 112 | 102 |
| Laundromats | 38 | #526 of 785 | 6 | 1.2 | $12.9M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 38 | #1,203 of 1,656 | 33 | 6.6 | $1.7M | 94 | 88 |
| Auto repair shops | 38 | #1,755 of 2,378 | 152 | 30.6 | $340K | 76 | 54 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 37 | #1,780 of 2,405 | 303 | 61.0 | $548K | 83 | 73 |
| Auto repair and car care | 35 | #1,859 of 2,401 | 257 | 51.8 | $201K | 75 | 83 |
| Tire shops | 31 | #1,233 of 1,530 | 38 | 7.7 | $1.4M | 54 | 14 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 31 | #1,710 of 2,063 | 49 | 9.9 | $3.4M | 91 | 42 |
| Insurance agencies | 30 | #1,813 of 2,272 | 101 | 20.3 | $952K | 76 | 58 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 30 | #2,028 of 2,405 | 529 | 106.6 | $314K | 85 | 225 |
| Child care and preschools | 28 | #1,380 of 1,611 | 54 | 10.9 | $467K | 47 | 48 |
| Barbershops | 27 | #1,155 of 1,356 | 37 | 7.5 | $1.2M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 26 | #2,082 of 2,402 | 155 | 31.2 | $1.8M | 52 | 39 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 25 | #1,972 of 2,222 | 86 | 17.3 | $1.9M | 63 | 110 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 24 | #1,755 of 1,889 | 53 | 10.7 | $3.1M | 76 | 42 |
| Grocery stores | 22 | #1,848 of 2,070 | 59 | 11.9 | $4.6M | 50 | 29 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 13 | #2,177 of 2,210 | 172 | 34.6 | $451K | 51 | 79 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 12 | #2,059 of 2,087 | 141 | 28.4 | $550K | 43 | 76 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.8 | Index only | 75 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 0.8 | $30.2M | 357 | 7 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.6 | $25.9M | 165 | 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.6 | $13.6M | 300 | 4 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.4 | $28.3M | Too few | 16 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.4 | $20.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.2 | $55.4M | Too few | 4 |
Household spending in Imperial County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $51.7M | $1,041 | 109 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $135.7M | $2,734 | 105 |
| Food away from home | $166M | $3,344 | 82 |
| Groceries | $272.7M | $5,494 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $43M | $866 | 86 |
| Child care and other personal services | $25.2M | $508 | 88 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $40.8M | $823 | 84 |
| Medical and dental services | $55.4M | $1,115 | 87 |
| Pets | $40.7M | $821 | 90 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $77.6M | $1,563 | 76 |
| Vehicle insurance | $96.1M | $1,936 | 99 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $120.8M | $2,434 | 81 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $56.6M | $1,141 | 81 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $790.8M | $15,929 | 96 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Imperial County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 181,411+1.1% since 2020
- Households
- 49,644
- Median age
- 33.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 57%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 4,176 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 43
- Median household income
- $57,681+21.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $79,363
- Median home value
- $309,600
- Jobs located here
- 63,081
- Daytime population
- 165,766Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Imperial County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Imperial County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Imperial County, CA growing?
Population estimates put Imperial County at 181,411 people in 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 49,644 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 21.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in Imperial County, CA spend?
Households in Imperial County spend about $790.8M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $272.7M on groceries and $166M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Imperial County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 109, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (76).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Imperial County, CA?
Of the business types scored in Imperial County, pet businesses (79), funeral homes (75) and pet grooming and boarding businesses (73) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet businesses, that ranks #78 of 2,200 scored counties.
How does Imperial County, CA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Imperial County is $57,681, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.1% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $309,600, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for tire shops (twice the U.S. rate) and lowest for pet businesses (65% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 49 of the 56 business types have a score in Imperial County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Imperial County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Imperial County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Imperial County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.