2022 · MMPBrea · Wikimedia Commons
Brea’s story
Brea in pictures
1 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives, and 1 places on the National Register.
- 2022MMPBrea
BreaCA
A town of 47,469. Public schools that outperform most of California.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Jonnyboyca at English Wikipedia · Public domain
Population
47,469
+20.5% since 2010
Typical home
$1.12M
+1.7% in a year
Household income
$131K
median
Median age
39.7
years
Jobs based here
43,605
A job hub
What makes Brea stand out
The 3 things Brea does most differently from other towns.
A−School Grade
Schools
#80 for schools in CA
of 574 towns
School Grade A−.
100 U.S. towns● Brea
Health
Healthier than 87%
of U.S. towns on CDC estimates
Better than CA on 20 measures, worse on 0.
Outdoors
#205 most trails in CA
22 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves
10.1% of the town is conserved land.
A growing town
Brea has grown 20.5% since 2010
39,282 people in 2010; 47,469 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Brea’s report card
SchoolsA−Beats 81% of CA districtsHealthAHealthier than 87% of U.S. townsOutdoors22 mi#205 for trails in CACommute13 miHalf of commuters travel lessHousing$1.12M46% above the CA typical homeHazards89/100Very high risk of storm & flood damageSafetyC−Less crime than 21% of U.S. townsClimate89°/46°Summer high · winter low
Now in Brea
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Brea is #421 of 438 in CA for “Most new homes”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Brea’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →63°
Sunny
H 87° · L 64°
Local news
All →- Alyssa Sandoval - Brea Olinda Wildcats Girls Soccer (Brea, CA)Sports Illustrated · Sep 17
- Emi TsengSports Illustrated · Sep 11
- Behavior Frontiers Opens First-Ever Orange County ABA Therapy Center in Brea, CAPR Newswire · Aug 27
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Brea. Another town gets a different order.
Schools
Brea’s public schools outperform 81% of California districts
The public schools Brea’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 81% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.
A−School Grade
| School | Grades | Students | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olinda Elementary | K–6 | 649 | Not graded |
| Falcon Academy of Science and Technology | K–6 | 544 | Not graded |
| Mariposa Elementary | K–6 | 504 | Not graded |
| Brea Country Hills Elementary | K–6 | 498 | Not graded |
| Arovista Elementary | K–6 | 460 | Not graded |
| Laurel Elem Magnet Sch of Innovation and Career Explr | K–6 | 434 | Not graded |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduationAll 13 schools →
Health
Healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Brea beats the California average on 20 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
AHealth Grade
32 measures vs. California
20 better12 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Brea | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.9% | 10.6% |
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7% | 10.6% |
Providence St. Jude Medical Center
4.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
81st
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Outdoors
10.1% of Brea is conserved land
22 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves.
#205for trails in CA
10.1%
conserved · 814 of 8,094 acres
22 mi
of trails · 1.7 per sq mi
#246
most conserved land in CA
#235
most walkable in CA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Carbon Canyon Regional Park | 2.8 mi | 201 |
| 2. Chino Hills State Park | 1.1 mi | 253 |
| 3. Arovista Park | 1 mi | 18 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Brea
Most working residents leave Brea for work: only 9% work in town. The top destinations are Anaheim (8%), Los Angeles (7%) and Fullerton (6%). Half commute less than 13 miles.
9%work in town
Where working residents work
In Brea9%
Anaheim8%
Los Angeles7%
Fullerton6%
Irvine5%
13 mi
median commute distance
43,605
jobs based in Brea
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Housing
A typical Brea home is worth about $1.12M
The typical Brea home is worth about $1,118,000, up 1.7% in a year, 46% above the California typical home.
$1.12MZillow home value
Typical home value
Brea$1.12M
California$764K
Market temperature
29
days on market
103.5%
sale-to-list price
+1.7%
value change, 1 year
25
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
Natural hazards
Very high risk, with earthquakes at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 89% of U.S. communities.
89risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
1
paid flood claims since 1996
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Safety
Less crime per resident than 21% of U.S. towns
Brea reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 79% report less.
C−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Brea1.8
California4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Brea22.1
California18.2
U.S.15.5
21st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
32nd
percentile among CA towns
87
violent crimes reported in 2025
1,061
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeFull safety report →
Climate
Mild winters, hot summers
Brea has warm winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 47°, and snow is almost unheard of.
89°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter46–68°
Spring52–74°
Summer62–86°
Fall57–81°
+2.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
89°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
A job hub
Every workday, about 41,700 people come to Brea for work
Where Brea’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
43,605jobs based in Brea
9%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Brea
20 notable people were born in Brea.
N
Nikki ZieringAmerican model and actress · born 1971
W
William Wisher Jr.American screenwriter · 1955–2026A
Aubree MunroAmerican softball player · born 1993
About Brea
City in California, United States
Brea ( BRAY-uh; Spanish for 'tar') is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States. The population as of the 2020 census was 47,325. It is 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Los Angeles. Brea is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The city began as a center of crude oil production and was later propelled by citrus production. It is a significant retail center, including the Carbon Canyon Dam, Carbon Canyon Regional Park, Brea Mall and downtown Brea. The city has an extensive public art program that began in 1975 and has over 140 artworks placed throughout the city.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Population
- 47,325
- Area
- 12 sq mi
- Elevation
- 361 ft
- ZIP code
- 92821, 92822, 92823
Brea’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Brea.
Yorba LindaFullertonLa HabraPlacentiaRowland HeightsBrea
More about Brea
Still missing for Brea:upcoming events