Unemployment in Imperial County, California, is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties
In Imperial County, 18.8% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 89% of U.S. counties.
What drives Imperial County's score
In Imperial County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 94.8. Housing costs come next, at 90.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Imperial County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Imperial County does better than most counties on two measures: people without health insurance (6.0%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a disability (14.8%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 94.9 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year18.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202699th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working30.1% · 2020 to 202489th percentile
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- 90.1 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent26.2% · 2020 to 202490th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income26.7% · fiscal year 202790th percentile
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- 70.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.4% · August 202577th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.0% · August 202561st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score46.5% · second quarter of 202670th percentile
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- 60.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line18.8% · 202483rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line25.1% · 202482nd percentile
- People with a disability14.8% · 2020 to 202438th percentile
- People without health insurance6.0% · 2020 to 202431st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$60,477 · 202469th percentile
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- 54.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector23.9% · August 202552nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people137.9 · 202555th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Imperial County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Imperial County, 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Imperial County
California
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Imperial County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 30.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Imperial County, California, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 30.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
SNAP food aid is one of the benefit checks counted in the income totals above.
The share of households in Imperial County getting SNAP food aid doubled to 28.7%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2019 to 2020, reaching 23.6%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Imperial County, California.
How Imperial County has changed
Imperial County's population had its largest rise, from 105,166 in 1989 to 134,315 in 1994.
Imperial County's population more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 181,724, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2019 to 2024, reaching 181,724. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Imperial County, California.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Imperial County rose by about half to 67,955, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2020 to 2025, reaching 67,955. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Imperial County, California.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 25.5% | 2025 18.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 23.8% | 2024 18.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $18,558 | 2024 $60,477 |
The table uses 18.9% for 2025; the score uses 18.8% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Imperial County's history
1905
Salton Sea formed from Colorado River flooding. Wikipedia
1907
Formed in 1907 from the eastern portion of San Diego County. Wikipedia
2007
A thunderstorm in September 2007 did $4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 179,702, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2021
A flash flood in August 2021 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2023
A flash flood in September 2023 did $30 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2024
A flood in January 2024 did $4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1976
15 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Imperial County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Imperial County beside its neighbors
Imperial County scores higher than all four counties that border it, in California and Arizona. For the share of income from benefit checks, Imperial County ranks 2nd of the five; La Paz County is highest, at 43.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial County, CA | 89 | 18.8% | 30.0% |
| La Paz County, AZ | 76 | 18.7% | 43.0% |
| Yuma County, AZ | 71 | 16.6% | 28.2% |
| Riverside County, CA | 70 | 9.8% | 21.3% |
| San Diego County, CA | 44 | 10.1% | 16.2% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Imperial County the poorest county in California?
No, Imperial County's poverty rate was 18.8% in 2024, 5th highest of 58 in California (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Trinity County, at 23.0%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Imperial County ranks 2nd of 58 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Imperial County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Imperial County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Imperial County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.