At $2,138/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,138 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($90,195) is $2,255 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,750); a 3-bedroom is $2,390.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Imperial. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Imperial, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 22.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Imperial, CA has changed in 5 years
Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $81,657 in 2021 to $90,195 more recently. The population has grown by 7.2% since 2021, moving from about 19,982 residents to roughly 21,430. Renters now make up 30.5% of households, compared with 34.6% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 22.7% of adults here, versus 20% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Imperial on your salary?
At $2,138/mo, how Imperial rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Imperial rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Imperial. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Imperial
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Imperial is $2,138/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,200/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,750/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,350/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,390/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($90,195/yr), Imperial ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Imperial?
Is rent going up or down in Imperial?
How does Imperial rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Imperial?
At $2,138/mo, rent takes ~28% of Imperial's median household income ($90,195/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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