Area data
Imperial, CA — ZIP 92251
Population: 27,454 (Census ACS)
The median home value in ZIP 92251 (Imperial, CA) is $444,781 — up 5.5% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $469,000 after a median 29 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,300/month. 6 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with earthquake, inlandflooding, drought the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 13.3% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$444,781
Median home value
+5.5%
1-year change
29
Median days on market
Relatively High
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $444,781
- 1-year appreciation
- +5.5%
- 3-year appreciation
- +22.3%
- 5-year appreciation
- +42.6%
- 10-year appreciation
- +102.7%
- All-time peak (2026-05)
- $444,833
- House Price Index (state)
- 417.4 (-0.8% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- Median sale price
- $469,000
- Median list price
- $474,260
- Median price per sqft
- $241
- 1-year sale-price change
- +7.8%
- Median days on market
- 29 days
- Homes sold (recent period)
- 29
- For-sale inventory
- 37
- Sale-to-list ratio
- 100.5%
- Active listings
- 31
- 1-year forecast
- +2.1%
- New listings (monthly)
- 18
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Rents
- Typical rent
- $2,300/mo
- Studio fair-market rent
- $1,495/mo
- 1BR fair-market rent
- $1,869/mo
- 2BR fair-market rent
- $2,330/mo
- 3BR fair-market rent
- $3,029/mo
- 4BR fair-market rent
- $3,495/mo
Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (High)
- 113.3 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 32.5¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $22.00/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 6
- Elementary schools
- 3
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 2
- Schools include
- Ben Hulse Elementary, Frank M. Wright Middle, Imperial Ave. Holbrook High, Imperial High, T. L. Waggoner Elementary
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively High
- Top hazards (county)
- earthquake, inlandFlooding, drought, heatWave, strongWind
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- drought: Relatively Moderate · earthquake: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · inlandFlooding: Relatively High · strongWind: Relatively Moderate · volcanicActivity: Relatively Low
- FEMA flood zone
- A
- Flood risk level
- High
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 37% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 17.4%
- Radon potential (county)
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
- Nearest Superfund site
- Stoker Company (7.9 mi — proposed for listing)
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 74.0°F
- Average high
- 89.0°F
- Average low
- 59.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 4.8 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 10a (extreme annual low 30 to 35°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Moderate
- Median AQI (annual)
- 61
- Days with Good air quality
- 104
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 214
- Days with Unhealthy air quality
- 3
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 506
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Walkability & transit
- Walkability index
- 5.2 / 20
- Transit service frequency
- -99,999
- Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
- 5,013
- Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
- 5,599
Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)
Amenities
- Airports within 30 mi
- 12
- Nearest airport
- El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) (NJK) (4 mi)
- Nearest major airport
- El Centro NAF Airport (Vraciu Field) (NJK) (4 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 1
- Hospitals include
- PIONEERS MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE DISTRICT
- Avg hospital rating (CMS)
- 2.0 / 5
- Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
- 2.0 / 5
- Solar radiation rating
- Excellent (5.9 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- -643 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 2,000
- Housing built before 1970
- 17.4%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 50.8%
- Median annual property tax
- $3,503
- Mean commute to work
- 20 min
- Households with broadband internet
- 72.4%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 45,830
- Average weekly wage
- $852
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Agriculture, Accommodation & Food
- Annual residential building permits (county)
- 153
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| ZIP 92251 | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $444,781 | $702,573 | $289,727 |
| Median sale price | $469,000 | $696,000 | $325,000 |
| Median days on market | 29 days | 39 days | 51 days |
| Typical rent | $2,300/mo | $2,767/mo | $1,808/mo |
| Median annual property tax | $3,503 | $4,533 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in ZIP 92251?
- $444,781.
- What is the median sale price in ZIP 92251?
- $469,000.
- How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 92251?
- Median days on market: 29 days.
- What is typical rent in ZIP 92251?
- Typical rent: $2,300/month.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 92251?
- Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: earthquake, inlandFlooding, drought, heatWave, strongWind.
- Is ZIP 92251 in a flood zone?
- High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone A.
- What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 92251?
- Risk to homes is higher than 37% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in ZIP 92251?
- Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 92251?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve ZIP 92251?
- 6 schools (3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- Is ZIP 92251 walkable?
- Walkability index: 5.2/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
- What is the air quality in ZIP 92251?
- Moderate. Median AQI: 61. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in ZIP 92251?
- Regional Price Parity: 113.3 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
Nearby ZIP codes
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →