COUNTY REPORT CA

Imperial County, California

18 ZIP codes · Avg score 88/100 · Grade A · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Imperial County: A.

No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.

Throughout Imperial County, the 18 monitored ZIP codes show low violation rates and healthy safety scores - a pattern that puts the county well above the state baseline for drinking water quality.

How Imperial County Compares

Imperial County88/100
California avg76/100
National avg73/100

How Imperial County Compares

A
County Grade
88/100
Avg Safety Score
18
ZIP Codes
12
Water Systems

Imperial County scores 12 points above the California state average (76/100) and 15 points above the national average (73/100).

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:

A
County Grade
88
Avg Safety Score
18
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 92233 (92/100)
Lowest ZIP: 92251 (83/100)
$206K
Median Home Value
$1,100
Avg Remediation (53% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Imperial County, California

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 12.3 (asthma 9.2%, diabetes 15%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,183, driven primarily by flood

46.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

↑ Worsening trend

EPA violation counts by year across Imperial County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
3 (3 health)
2022
3 (3 health)
2023
2 (2 health)
2024
17 (17 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 17 violations. Past 5 years: 25 total (25 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window - worth closer monitoring.

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.2% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 15% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 34.7% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1983
Median Build Year
46.7%
Pre-1978 Housing
34/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
24%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,183

Flood $467/yr
Sea Level Rise $400/yr
Energy Code Gap $360/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

61,523 housing units in Imperial County

Pre-1940 3%
1940–1959 12%
1960–1979 23%
1980–1999 35%
2000+ 28%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Imperial County

$206K
Median Home Value
$1,100
Est. Remediation Cost
0.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Imperial County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Imperial County residents

Asthma 9.2% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 15% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 34.7% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water systems serving Imperial County

8 community water systems serving Imperial County.

Show all 8 water systems

12 total water systems serve Imperial County.

Systems with the most violations in Imperial County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Imperial County

18 ZIP codes tracked in Imperial County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 92233 Calipatria 92 A 0 $177K
2 92257 Niland 92 A 0 $113K
3 92274 Thermal 91 A 3 $140K
4 92231 Calexico 88 A 2 (1 health) $282K
5 92250 Holtville 88 A 2 (1 health) $279K
6 92227 Brawley 87 A 4 (1 health) $272K
7 92249 Heber 87 A 3 (1 health) $284K
8 92243 El Centro 83 B 6 (2 health) $286K
9 92251 Imperial 83 B 7 (2 health) $350K
10 92222 Bard
11 92232 Calexico
12 92244 El Centro
13 92259 Ocotillo $159K
14 92266 Palo Verde
15 92273 Seeley 4 (1 health) $191K
16 92275 Salton City $140K
17 92281 Westmorland $222K
18 92283 Winterhaven $91K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Imperial County

Filtered against EPA monitoring data and CDC lead-exposure guidance, the guides below skip the generic catalog and connect directly to the contaminants and hazards on file here.

Overview

Imperial County in California covers 18 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of A (88/100) across 9 scored records.

8 of 10 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to California Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Imperial County?
Imperial County receives a grade of A, indicating generally safe tap water across its 18 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Imperial County?
Imperial County is served by 12 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 18 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Imperial County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Imperial County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,183 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Imperial County?
The median home build year in Imperial County is 1983. 46.7% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Imperial County compare to California?
Imperial County has an average Home Safety Score of 88/100 under model 4.0.0, which is above the California state average of 76/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Imperial County, CA: HSS 88/100; 3 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/county/california/imperial/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-california-imperial,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Imperial County, CA: HSS 88/100; 3 Health Violations}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/california/imperial/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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