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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



Imperial Beach, CA Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q2 2024. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

Imperial Beach, CA Housing Market Trends

With a population of 25,791, 9,115 total housing units (homes and apartments), and a median house value of $1,031,608, real estate costs in Imperial Beach are among some of the highest in the nation, although house prices here don't compare to real estate prices in the most expensive California communities.

Single-family detached homes are the single most common housing type in Imperial Beach, accounting for 40.79% of the city's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in Imperial Beach include large apartment complexes or high rise apartments ( 34.64%), row houses and other attached homes ( 11.92%), and a few duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 11.55%).

Imperial Beach is dominated by renter-occupied one, two, or no bedrooms apartments. 70.34% of Imperial Beach's dwellings are rentals.

At the end of World War II, American soldiers returned home triumphant and, with the help of the GI Bill, built homes by the millions on the edges of America's cities. These homes were predominantly capes and ranches, modest in size, but built to house a growing middle-class as the 20th century became the American century. Imperial Beach's housing was primarily built during this period, from the '40s through the '60s. A full 44.58% of the city's housing hails from this era. Other housing ages represented in Imperial Beach include homes built between 1970-1999 ( 41.62%) and housing constructed between 2000 and later ( 11.57%). There's also some housing in Imperial Beach built before 1939 ( 2.22%).

Imperial Beach Home Appreciation Rates

In the last 10 years, Imperial Beach has experienced some of the highest home appreciation rates of any community in the nation. Imperial Beach real estate appreciated 158.07% over the last ten years, which is an average annual home appreciation rate of 9.94%, putting Imperial Beach in the top 10% nationally for real estate appreciation. If you are a home buyer or real estate investor, Imperial Beach definitely has a track record of being one of the best long term real estate investments in America through the last ten years.

Appreciation rates are so strong in Imperial Beach that despite a nationwide downturn in the housing market, Imperial Beach real estate has continued to appreciate in value faster than most communities. Looking at just the latest twelve months, Imperial Beach appreciation rates continue to be some of the highest in America, at 10.70%, which is higher than appreciation rates in 90.08% of the cities and towns in the nation. Based on the last twelve months, short-term real estate investors have found good fortune in Imperial Beach. Imperial Beach appreciation rates in the latest quarter were at 2.65%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of 11.01%.

Relative to California, our data show that Imperial Beach's latest annual appreciation rate is higher than 90% of the other cities and towns in California.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within Imperial Beach differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in Imperial Beach - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best Imperial Beach real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$1,031,608

Imperial Beach, CA Home Prices
> $1,446,000
$1,084,001 - $1,446,000
$723,001 - $1,084,000
$579,001 - $723,000
$434,001 - $579,000
$289,001 - $434,000
$145,001 - $289,000
$72,001 - $145,000
$0 - $72,000
11.0%
11.0%
33.9%
33.9%
33.6%
33.6%
11.1%
11.1%
3.7%
3.7%
3.4%
3.4%
1.4%
1.4%
0.5%
0.5%
1.5%
1.5%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
High

for California

Very High

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

9,115

Imperial Beach Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$3,353 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
29.7%
29.7%
70.3%
70.3%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
9.9%
9.9%
90.1%
90.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
11.6%
11.6%
41.6%
41.6%
44.6%
44.6%
2.2%
2.2%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
40.8%
40.8%
11.9%
11.9%
11.6%
11.6%
34.6%
34.6%
0.9%
0.9%
0.2%
0.2%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
4.9%
4.9%
13.9%
13.9%
46.2%
46.2%
26.4%
26.4%
7.1%
7.1%
1.4%
1.4%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes