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Brea vs Placentia

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+17.9 pts in Brea) and jobs per worker (2.9× in Brea).

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Brea, CAKnown for its schoolsCalifornia · 47,469 people

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Placentia, CAAn outdoors townCalifornia · 52,826 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

BreaKnown for its schools

Schools#80 for schools in CAof 574 towns HealthHealthier than 88%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates

Outdoors#205 most trails in CA22 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves All about Brea →

PlacentiaAn outdoors town

Outdoors#11 most walkable in CA7.4 miles of trails across 15 parks and preserves Schools#97 for schools in CAof 574 towns HealthHealthier than 77%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Placentia →

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+17.9 pts

Brea has grown faster since 2010

Brea +20.5%Placentia +2.6%

Jobs per worker2.9×

Brea is more of a job hub

Brea 1.99Placentia 0.68

Brea has more miles of trail

Brea 21.5 miPlacentia 7.4 mi

Street grid+76%

Placentia has the more walkable street grid

Placentia 178Brea 101

Average commute5 min

Placentia has the shorter commute

Brea 31 minPlacentia 27 min

Bachelor’s degree++8 pts

More adults in Brea have a degree

Brea 52.2%Placentia 44.2%

★ What stands out · Where they are

Brea and Placentia share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

BreaPlacentia

Brea ↔ Placentia3.1 miles apart · They share a border

Who commutes between them

904 Placentia residents work in Brea (3.6% of its workers)

Work & commute in Placentia →

Report cards

Brea places higher on 12 of 22 CA lists

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety

C−BreaSafer than 21% of U.S. towns CPlacentiaSafer than 34% of U.S. towns

Schools

A−BreaBetter than 81% of districts in the state A−PlacentiaBetter than 84% of districts in the state

Health

ABreaHealthier than 88% of U.S. towns A−PlacentiaHealthier than 77% of U.S. towns

12Brea

9Placentia

Lists won, of 22 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most new homesHousing · 438 towns #421#131 Fastest growingGrowth · 816 towns #64#518 Most conserved landOutdoors · 777 towns #246#502 Shortest commuteGetting around · 843 towns #606#334 Most walkableOutdoors · 841 towns #235#11 SafestSafety · 411 towns #280#174 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 844 towns #241#448 Rent easiest to affordCost of living · 422 towns #148#248

Left end = #1 in California. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Brea’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Brea$6,540/mo

Typical home $1.12M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.73% · or rent about $2,397/mo · Housing →

Placentia$6,390/mo

Typical home $1.1M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.67% · or rent about $2,388/mo · Housing →

The difference: $150 a month, about $1,800 a year, between Brea and Placentia.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

BreaPlacentia

Snow a year0″0″

January low—49°F

July high—87°F

Growing season (days)—365d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)89th 86th

Outdoors & history

BreaPlacentia

Trails22 mi 7 mi

Conserved land10.1%2.6%

National Register places1 2

Archive photos1 —

Famous people born here20 —

Community

BreaPlacentia

Library hours a week42 hrs 61 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs California average

BreaPlacentia

People

Population 47,469Lowest 52,826Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +20.5%Highest CA: +6.1% +2.6%Lowest CA: +6.1%

Median age 39.7±1.4Highest 5% above CA 39.1±1.2Lowest 3% above CA

Brea and Placentia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 22.7%±1.9Lowest CA: 22% 23.3%±1.8Highest CA: 22%

Placentia and Brea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 17.2%±1.4Highest CA: 15.7% 15.7%±1.2Lowest CA: 15.7%

Brea and Placentia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 52.2%Highest CA: 37.1% 44.2%Lowest CA: 37.1%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.2%±1.1Lowest CA: 7.6% 7.9%±0.9Highest CA: 7.6%

Placentia and Brea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $131,129±$12kHighest 32% above CA $115,929±$6kLowest 17% above CA

Brea and Placentia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $922,300±$24kHighest 26% above CA $921,000±$17kLowest 25% above CA

Brea and Placentia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,397±$82Highest 18% above CA $2,388±$84Lowest 17% above CA

Brea and Placentia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $6,740Highest 32% above CA $6,159Lowest 20% above CA

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 53.3%±5.2Lowest CA: 55.3% 57.4%±6.2Highest CA: 55.3%

Placentia and Brea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 6.6%Lowest CA: 12% 7.9%Highest CA: 12%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 59.7%Lowest CA: 55.9% 63.6%Highest CA: 55.9%

Typical home builtmedian year 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than CA 1976Lowest same as CA

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 31 minHighest 9% above CA 27 minLowest 7% below CA

Work from home 15.4%±2.1 CA: 17.2% 15.4%±2.2 CA: 17.2%

Work in townworking residents 8.7%Highest 6.2%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.8 miHighest 12.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.99Highest 0.68Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Anaheim (8%)Anaheim (12%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Placentia4% work in Brea

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 10.1%Highest 2.6%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 21.5 miHighest 7.4 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.7 miHighest 1.1 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 15 15

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 101Lowest 178Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #80 of 574 in CA #97 of 574 in CA

School district Brea-Olinda UnifiedPlacentia-Yorba Linda Unified

High school in town Brea Olinda HighValencia High

Students per teacherat that high school 21.3Lowest 21.9Highest

California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Brea neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Brea’s Town Square.

Placentia neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Placentia’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Brea and Placentia

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Bordering Brea

Yorba Linda67,170 people · $1.15M homes

Fullerton140,968 people · $903K homes

La Habra61,970 people · $782K homes

Rowland Heights45,911 people · $851K homes

Towns like Brea

Aliso Viejo51,113 people · $918K homes

Pleasant Hill34,235 people · $1.08M homes

San Bruno42,307 people · $1.21M homes

Cypress49,498 people · $914K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.