Imperial Beach 60 Average
Imperial Beach Livability #573 ranked city in California#18,732 ranked city in the USARanks better than 36% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Imperial Beach

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    High scores in the commute category could indicate that this area offers short commute times to work and readily available public transportation options.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive feedback regarding the convenience of amenities, parks, public transit, the friendliness of neighbors, the strong sense of community, and the overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents of this area contend with a high cost of living, resulting in increased expenditures for everyday goods and services, housing, utilities and health care.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Factors like poor air quality and the absence of essential health-related facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and pharmacies could have played a role in the low score in this category.

  • Schools Schools

    Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Imperial Beach?

Imperial Beach, California is a moderately-sized city with a population of 27,956 people. In Imperial Beach, there are 6,719 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. At 67%, the majority of the Imperial Beach population is White; this is followed by 7% Asian and 6% Black. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Imperial Beach are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 37% of the population also speak Spanish. The median age of all Imperial Beach residents is 33, which is well below the national average. This is a good indication that this city could be ideal for a younger demographic. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Imperial Beach, only 42% of the population is married. Long commute times to work can be incredibly frustrating, ranking just behind housework on the list of life's annoyances. If you opt to make Imperial Beach your home, your one-way commute time will typically last around 28 minutes, a duration that aligns with the national average commute time of 26 minutes.

Living in Imperial Beach can be a good experience for anyone relocating to the town. Having said that, in the state of California, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. With useful information like amenities, crime, cost of living, health & safety, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Imperial Beach and in the areas around Imperial Beach is a much easier task.

Imperial Beach has a livability score of 62 out of 100 and is ranked #510 in California and #15,748 in the USA. For each of the livability categories, we know that Imperial Beach ranks very well for employment (B-) and housing (B). There are some categories that Imperial Beach does not rank well for, including: amenities (F), cost of living (F) and education (F). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.

Finding affordable real estate and housing in Imperial Beach can be tricky. Having said that, this area might be the place to get the best of both worlds. Based on factors like home/rental affordability and appreciation rates, this area has received an above average score in the housing category. A healthy real estate market can lead to wealth appreciation for property owners, as rising property values can contribute to homeowners' equity, financial stability and the ability to build long-term wealth.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Imperial Beach is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Imperial Beach come in at $1,083,249, which is 48% higher than the California average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Imperial Beach, the home price to income ratio is 12.3, which is 59.7% higher than the California average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Imperial Beach

See all the best places to live around Imperial Beach

How Do You Rate The Livability In Imperial Beach?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Imperial Beach, CA Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs

      Imperial Beach transportation information

      Statistic Imperial Beach California National
      Average one way commute28min28min26min
      Workers who drive to work76.9%73.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.7%10.6%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit4.9%5.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.5%1.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.3%2.7%2.8%
      Working from home6.1%5.4%4.6%
      Source: The Imperial Beach, CA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.