How old are the homes in Imperial Beach, CA?

66.9% (±5.5 points) of the homes in Imperial Beach, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

4.5% were built before 1940.

7.0% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on .

Built before 1980
66.9% (±5.5 points)
Built before 1940
4.5%
Built 2010 or later
7.0%

When the homes in Imperial Beach were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year builtImperial BeachSan Diego CountyCaliforniaUnited States
2020 or later0.5% (±0.5 points)1.4%1.3%2.0%
2010 to 20196.5% (±2.2 points)6.9%6.5%9.4%
2000 to 20093.4% (±1.2 points)12.2%11.2%13.6%
1990 to 19998.2% (±2.3 points)11.3%10.1%12.4%
1980 to 198914.5% (±2.8 points)18.6%14.9%12.9%
1970 to 197919.1% (±3.3 points)21.4%16.8%14.2%
1960 to 196915.8% (±2.7 points)11.2%12.5%9.9%
1950 to 195923.0% (±2.5 points)9.8%12.4%9.5%
1940 to 19494.5% (±1.4 points)3.0%5.4%4.4%
1939 or earlier4.5% (±2.1 points)4.0%8.9%11.7%

In Imperial Beach, the share of homes built before 1980 is higher than in San Diego County (49.4%).

It is also higher than in California (56.0%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

In San Diego County, Imperial Beach ranks 13 of 50 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 352 of 1,076.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (47.8%) and the share built before 1980 (66.9%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Imperial Beach

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Imperial Beach
PlaceDistanceHomes built before 1980Compared with this place
Imperial Beach—66.9% (±5.5 points)—
Coronado6.6 mi66.9% (±4.6 points)Not measurably different
National City6.8 mi70.1% (±4.9 points)Not measurably different
Chula Vista7.1 mi42.4% (±1.7 points)Lower
Bonita9.6 mi68.6% (±8.0 points)Not measurably different
La Presa12 mi65.6% (±5.6 points)Not measurably different
Lemon Grove12 mi71.9% (±6.1 points)Not measurably different
Spring Valley14 mi59.8% (±5.8 points)Not measurably different
La Mesa15 mi72.9% (±3.8 points)Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Chula Vista, CA (42.4%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across San Diego County, place by place

RankPlaceHomes built before 1980
7National City70.1% (±4.9 points)
8Solana Beach68.9% (±5.6 points)
9Bonita68.6% (±8.0 points)
10 (tie)El Cajon67.5% (±3.4 points)
10 (tie)Pine Valley67.5% (±19.7 points)
12 (tie)Coronado66.9% (±4.6 points)
12 (tie)Imperial Beach66.9% (±5.5 points)
14La Presa65.6% (±5.6 points)
15Winter Gardens62.8% (±6.4 points)
16Julian61.7% (±24.7 points)
17Crest61.5% (±14.3 points)
18 (tie)Descanso59.8% (±22.1 points)
18 (tie)Spring Valley59.8% (±5.8 points)

Showing 13 of 50 places in San Diego County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in Imperial Beach

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Questions about Imperial Beach

How old are most homes in Imperial Beach?

66.9% of homes in Imperial Beach, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Imperial Beach need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 47.8% and 66.9% of homes in Imperial Beach were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Imperial Beach?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Imperial Beach city, California (place:36294, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.

Figures last updated on .

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