Imperial County
Imperial Real Estate: Homes, Prices and Local Insight
Imperial is the Imperial Valley's first incorporated city and the fastest growing of these four cities in the 2010s, home to the county fairgrounds, Imperial Valley College and the county airport. Homes typically run about 15% above the Imperial County figure.
- 130+ sales closed
- 5.0 on Yelp · 6 reviews
- 100% recommend · 12 Facebook reviews
Neighborhood review
What are the strengths and trade-offs of living in Imperial?
Strengths
- The only one of the 15 communities with no FEMA floodplain, fire zone or fault zone mapped
- Home to the county fairgrounds, Imperial Valley College and the airport
- New subdivisions and a regional park planned
Trade-offs
- About 15% above the county figure
- Fewer shops and restaurants than El Centro, 4 miles south
Based on the public data on this page, as of October 2026. It describes homes and places, not the people who live there.
Homes
What are homes like in Imperial?
Imperial has 6,732 homes and grew fastest of the four valley cities in the 2010s. Its historic business area is Old Downtown.
A 475-home first phase on Clark Road has City Council support, and a 794-home annexation is starting.
What's coming
What's planned or being built in Imperial?
Projects with a public approval, funding decision or construction date, as of October 2026.
La Brucherie Road regional park
Won $1.5 million in federal funds in February 2026, with trails, playgrounds and sports fields planned; no schedule yet. Source
Imperial Valley College technical and art building
A $42.5 million building set to open in fall 2026.
County airport air service
The commercial air service at Imperial County Airport is being re-bid.
Things to do · 2 of 5
What is there to do in Imperial?
El Centro's mall and cinema are 4 miles south. The four Imperial Valley cities sit within about 17 miles of one another, so the mall in El Centro, the fair in Imperial, the outlets in Calexico and the rodeo in Brawley are all about 20 minutes from each other.
Main street (not counted)
Not yet confirmed for this rating; Old Downtown has Station West Brewery.
Outdoors (not counted)
Pending the planned regional park.
Culture (counted)
The Pioneers Museum.
Events (counted)
The California Mid-Winter Fair & Fiesta, late February to mid-March.
Entertainment (not counted)
One brewery isn't a cluster.
Getting around
How do you get around Imperial?
SR-86 and SR-111 serve the city, El Centro is about 4 miles south, and Imperial County Airport offers small-carrier commercial service.
Official data
Where can you check hazard maps, crime data and schools in Imperial?
Stephen doesn't rate neighborhoods as safe or unsafe. These are the official sources, so you can judge for yourself.
Hazard maps
| Very High fire hazard zone | No | No Very High zones. |
|---|---|---|
| FEMA 100-year floodplain | No | No FEMA floodplain inside the city, the only one of the 15 communities without one. |
| Earthquake fault zone | No | No state-mapped fault zone. |
Community-wide flags overstate risk for most individual homes. Check an address with CAL FIRE, FEMA's flood maps and EQ Zapp. The seller's Natural Hazard Disclosure is the binding document.
Crime data
Patrolled by the Imperial Police Department.
FAQ
Questions about Imperial
What does a typical home cost in Imperial?
Zillow's typical home value for Imperial was $442,042 in August 2026, 15% above Imperial County's $382,827. For a price on a specific home, request a personal valuation.
Is Imperial in a wildfire, flood or earthquake fault zone?
On state and federal maps, Imperial's Very High fire hazard flag is no, its FEMA floodplain flag is no and its earthquake fault zone flag is no. Check a specific address with CAL FIRE, FEMA and EQ Zapp; the seller's Natural Hazard Disclosure covers each home.
What's being built in Imperial?
La Brucherie Road regional park. Won $1.5 million in federal funds in February 2026, with trails, playgrounds and sports fields planned; no schedule yet.
Which school district serves Imperial?
Imperial Unified (district list). Stephen doesn't rate schools; the California School Dashboard has the state's data for every public school.
Next step
Own a home in Imperial?
Get a personal valuation built from recent Imperial sales, not an algorithm. Buying here instead? Start with a 20-minute consult.
More communities near Imperial
Sources: Zillow home value data · City of Imperial · Pioneers Museum. Updated October 2026.