Imperial ZIP Codes — Imperial County, CA

There is one unique ZIP code in Imperial, California and it is 92251. Area code: 760/442.

ZIP codes

247.37

sq mi land

0.02

sq mi water

760/442

area code

Imperial, CA ZIP code map

About Imperial, CA

Imperial, California is a small city located in the southwestern part of the state. It is known for its rich agricultural landscape and warm, sunny climate. Nestled in Imperial County, this city offers a mix of agricultural opportunities and close-knit community life.

Location & geography

Imperial is situated approximately 10 miles east of the city of El Centro and about 30 miles north of the Mexican border. The city spans a total area of 247.37 square miles, with a minute water area of 0.02 square miles. The terrain is characterized by desert landscapes and flat expanses, typical of the Imperial Valley region.

Community & economy

The community in Imperial has a friendly, small-town atmosphere, where residents often take pride in their agricultural heritage. Agriculture serves as a primary industry, with local farms producing a variety of crops due to the fertile soil and favorable climate. Daily life often revolves around community events, family gatherings, and local festivities that celebrate the region's culture and history.

Transportation

Imperial is accessible via several state highways, including California State Route 86 and California State Route 111, making travel to neighboring communities convenient. The nearest named airport is the Imperial County Airport, located just a few miles southwest of the city, which offers general aviation services. Public transit options may be limited, but connections to surrounding areas are available.

History

Established in the early 20th century, Imperial was founded as part of the larger effort to develop agriculture in the arid regions of California. The city has since grown, primarily due to its agricultural industries that flourished with the arrival of irrigation technology. Notable events include the expansion of agricultural production in the area, which helped shape the local economy and community.

Did you know?

A surprising fact about Imperial is that it is one of the few cities in California that primarily focuses on agriculture in such a vast geographic area. Additionally, the city hosts several annual events that showcase local produce and celebrate its agricultural roots.

ZIP codes for Imperial, CA (1)

ZIP code	City	County	Map
92251	Imperial	Imperial	View map

Demographics & statistics

27,050

Population

33.2

Median age

$90,632

Median household income

$23,065

Per capita income

$313,600

Median home value

$1,309

Median monthly rent

68.0%

Home ownership

12.7%

Poverty rate

9.8%

Unemployment

5,326

Housing units

18.5%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

1,180

Under 5

1,018

967

5–9

833

1,345

10–14

1,160

1,322

15–19

1,139

894

20–24

770

1,997

25–34

1,721

2,140

35–44

1,844

1,547

45–54

1,333

975

55–59

841

807

60–64

695

824

65–74

711

424

75–84

365

106

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	7,975	29.5%
18 and over	19,075	70.5%
65 and over	2,522	9.3%
Median age	33.2 years

Race & ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 31.5%

White 30.9%

Other race 18%

Two or more races 14.2%

Black or African American 3.2%

Asian 2%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%

Group	Count	%
Hispanic or Latino	12,420	31.5%
White	12,189	30.9%
Other race	7,106	18%
Two or more races	5,623	14.2%
Black or African American	1,264	3.2%
Asian	786	2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	69	0.2%

Household income

Under $10k 4.3%

$10k–$15k 1.4%

$15k–$25k 7.1%

$25k–$35k 1.9%

$35k–$50k 15.5%

$50k–$75k 11.2%

$75k–$100k 16.9%

$100k–$150k 28.6%

$150k–$200k 4.8%

$200k+ 8.4%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	4.3%
$10k–$15k	1.4%
$15k–$25k	7.1%
$25k–$35k	1.9%
$35k–$50k	15.5%
$50k–$75k	11.2%
$75k–$100k	16.9%
$100k–$150k	28.6%
$150k–$200k	4.8%
$200k+	8.4%
Median income	$90,632

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 1.4%

$50k–$100k 0.4%

$100k–$150k 1.5%

$150k–$200k 4.4%

$200k–$300k 37.8%

$300k–$500k 43.2%

$500k–$1M 8.6%

$1M+ 2.8%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$313,600
Median rent / month	$1,309
Owner occupied	68.0%
Renter occupied	32.0%
Vacant	16.7%
Single-family detached	77.1%
Large apartment buildings	3.3%
Mobile homes	4.3%
Median rooms	5.5
Avg household size (owned)	3.90

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	1.1%
2010–2019	15.1%
2000–2009	28.7%
1990–1999	22.1%
1980–1989	12.7%
1970–1979	1.9%
1960–1969	5.7%
1950–1959	8.1%
1940–1949	1.1%
1939 or earlier	3.5%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	4.0%
1 bedroom	5.6%
2 bedrooms	12.1%
3 bedrooms	45.6%
4 bedrooms	28.9%
5+ bedrooms	3.8%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	1.3%
1 vehicle	26.6%
2 vehicles	41.9%
3 or more	30.2%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	57.2%
Electricity	39.3%
Propane / LP gas	0.7%
Wood	0.6%
No fuel used	1.9%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	3,259	53.9%
Cohabiting couple	274	4.5%
Male householder, no spouse	976	16.1%
Female householder, no spouse	1,540	25.5%
Households with children under 18	2,649	43.8%
Households with seniors (65+)	1,520	25.1%
Average household size	3.91

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	46.0%	40.1%
Married	41.0%	39.1%
Separated	2.4%	3.0%
Widowed	0.9%	5.9%
Divorced	9.7%	12.0%

Education

Less than 9th grade 6.7%

Some HS, no diploma 16.6%

HS graduate 25.0%

Some college, no degree 26.0%

Associate's degree 7.2%

Bachelor's degree 13.2%

Graduate / professional 5.4%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	76.7%
Bachelor's or higher	18.5%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	248	2.9%
Kindergarten	479	5.5%
Elementary school	3,484	40.2%
High school	2,531	29.2%
College / grad school	1,932	22.3%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 24.0%

Public administration 15.0%

Arts, food & hospitality 11.9%

Retail trade 11.3%

Professional & management 8.0%

Transportation & utilities 7.4%

Finance & real estate 6.1%

Construction 4.2%

Other services 4.0%

Manufacturing 2.8%

Wholesale trade 2.5%

Agriculture & mining 2.3%

Information 0.5%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	32.0%
Service	29.3%
Sales & office	23.3%
Natural resources & construction	10.8%
Production & transportation	4.6%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	62.6%
Government	31.5%
Self-employed	5.2%
Unpaid family workers	0.7%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	80.6%
Carpool	8.6%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	3.5%
Other means	0.4%
Avg commute (minutes)	18.6

Poverty

All people 12.7%

Under 18 years 11.0%

18 and over 13.5%

Married-couple families 7.6%

Female-led households 18.3%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	26.7%
Retirement income	16.6%
Supplemental Security	3.3%
Cash public assistance	7.5%
Food stamps / SNAP	14.5%

Health indicators

Condition	%
High blood pressure	23.3%
High cholesterol	25.9%
Heart disease	3.7%
Stroke	1.9%
Asthma	8.9%
Arthritis	13.9%
Kidney disease	2.1%
Pulmonary disease	3.8%
Cancer	3.4%

Behavior / access	%
Binge drinking	22.5%
No physical activity	22.7%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	34.0%
Fair or poor health	15.0%
Poor mental health	14.7%
Poor physical health	9.1%
No health insurance	21.5%
Visited doctor (checkup)	61.6%
Visited dentist	59.8%
Cholesterol screening	87.1%
Teeth loss	10.0%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	933	4.9%

Disability	%
Any disability	14.5%
Under 18	7.3%
18–64 years	11.7%
65 and over	52.8%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	59.3%
Public insurance	42.1%
Uninsured under 19	2.8%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	24,852	91.9%
Spanish	5,200	20.9%
Other Indo-European	4,878	19.6%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	322	1.3%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	20,683	76.5%
Born in same state	20,147	74.5%
Born in different state	17,579	65.0%
Foreign born	536	2.0%
Naturalized citizen	6,367	23.5%
Not a US citizen	3,952	62.1%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Arab	781	2.9%
Italian	558	2.1%
French	415	1.5%
Polish	33	0.1%

Ancestry	Count	%
German	25	0.1%
Norwegian	21	0.1%
Irish	6	0%
Dutch	6	0%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	22.4%
Internet access	98.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions

What ZIP codes does Imperial, CA have?

Imperial, CA has one ZIP code: 92251. Each ZIP code serves a distinct delivery area within the city and surrounding region.