Imperial, CA · standard
ZIP Code 92251
Imperial County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,583
- 42/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $90,709
- Median income Above-median income area
- $368,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 18.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Imperial pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 26%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 24%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 42
- people per sq mi
- 70%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 92251 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 92251 (Imperial, CA) rose +6.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 263.5 in 2023 to 281.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 92251 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Imperial, Imperial County, California, with 21,583 residents across 516.3 square miles, a density of 42 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 92251 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $90,709 (11% below the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $27,511. The poverty rate is 13.7%, with unemployment at 7.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $368,700 (52% below the average California ZIP), and median rent is $1,242; owner occupancy is 70.2%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 18.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.5, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 2 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Imperial County, so 92251 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 92251
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Imperial, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 92251.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
43 establishments
- Construction
Construction
32 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
28 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
24 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
23 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 92251, Imperial, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
21,583
Population
516.3
Area (sq mi)
42
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 92251?
33.5
Median Age
55.0%
Male
45.0%
Female
22.9%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$90,709
Median Household Income
-11% vs state ZIP avg
$27,511
Per Capita Income
13.7%
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Unemployment Rate
21.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 92251 ranks among California ZIPs
Imperial, CA household income vs. every California ZIP code
Median household income among 1,583 reporting California ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$90,709 47th percentile higher than 47% of 1,583 California ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more California ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
7,575housing units
7,575
Total Housing Units
6,760
Occupied Units
815
Vacant Units
3.61
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$368,700
Median Home Value
-52% vs state ZIP avg
$1,242
Median Rent
2000
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+6.7%
YoY Change (2024)
281
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+181%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 92251 have increased 6.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +181% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.9% | 191 |
| 2021 | +13.4% | 217 |
| 2022 | +13.0% | 245 |
| 2023 | +7.4% | 264 |
| 2024 | +6.7% | 281 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 265 business establishments in ZIP 92251, employing approximately 2,750 people with a combined annual payroll of $155,509,000.
265
Businesses
2,750
Employees
$155.5M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 43 | 16.2% |
| Construction | 32 | 12.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 28 | 10.6% |
| Retail trade | 24 | 9.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 23 | 8.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 19 | 7.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 19 | 7.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 18 | 6.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 15 | 5.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14 | 5.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 8 | 3.0% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 1.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 92251 vs 92273 →
ZIP 92251 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 92243
El Centro (92243)
48,030 residents
- 92251
Imperial (92251)
21,583 residents
- 92273 1,823
Seeley (92273)
1,823 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 92251 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 92251 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 92251
Imperial (92251)
$90,709 median income
- 92273
Seeley (92273)
$62,051 median income
- 92243
El Centro (92243)
$55,057 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 92251 ranks the highest of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 92251, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (21,583 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Imperial County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 92251 in?
ZIP code 92251 (Imperial) is located in Imperial County, California. Imperial County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/imperial-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 92251?
ZIP code 92251 in Imperial, CA has a population of 21,583 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 92251?
The median household income in ZIP 92251 is $90,709, which is 19% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 92251?
The median home value in ZIP 92251 is $368,700, which is 33% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 92251?
The largest racial group in ZIP 92251 is Two or More Ethnicities at 37.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 83.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 92251?
ZIP code 92251 has 265 business establishments employing approximately 2,750 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 92251?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 92251 are: Health care and social assistance (43), Construction (32), Transportation and warehousing (28). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 92251?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 92251 increased by 6.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 181%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 92251?
In ZIP code 92251, 42.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 18.0% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 92251?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 92251 is 21.0 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 92251?
In ZIP code 92251, approximately 70.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 92251?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 92251 is 13.7% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 92251's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 92251 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Imperial, CA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.