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San Rafael vs Brea

382 miles apart. The biggest differences: home values (+47% in San Rafael) and growth since 2010 (+14.3 pts in Brea).

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San Rafael, CAHometown of 62 notable peopleCalifornia · 60,433 people
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Brea, CAKnown for its schoolsCalifornia · 47,469 people
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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.

San RafaelHometown of 62 notable people
Famous people62 notable peopleborn in San Rafael Outdoors#86 most conserved land in CA59 miles of trails across 28 parks and preserves Housing$1.3M typical home70% above the CA typical home All about San Rafael →
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 →
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.

Home values+47%
Homes cost more in San Rafael
San Rafael $1,355,600Brea $922,300
Growth since 2010+14.3 pts
Brea has grown faster since 2010
Brea +20.5%San Rafael +6.2%
Trails2.8×
San Rafael has more miles of trail
San Rafael 59.2 miBrea 21.5 mi
Property tax bill+48%
Tax bills are bigger in San Rafael
San Rafael $10,000+Brea $6,740
Work from home+10.9 pts
More people work from home in San Rafael
San Rafael 26.3%Brea 15.4%
Conserved land+15.8 pts
San Rafael has more conserved land
San Rafael 25.9%Brea 10.1%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Brea places higher on 15 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
DSan RafaelSafer than 14% of U.S. towns C−BreaSafer than 21% of U.S. towns
Schools
C+San RafaelBetter than 38% of districts in the state A−BreaBetter than 81% of districts in the state
Health
A−San RafaelHealthier than 76% of U.S. towns ABreaHealthier than 88% of U.S. towns
7San Rafael
15Brea

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

Shortest commuteGetting around · 843 towns #271#606 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 844 towns #539#241 Fastest growingGrowth · 816 towns #336#64 Most walkableOutdoors · 841 towns #469#235 Rent easiest to affordCost of living · 422 towns #261#148 Most remote workersWork · 801 towns #118#332 Best schoolsSchools · 574 towns #216#80 Lowest depressionHealth · 844 towns #288#99

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

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,060 more a month in San Rafael

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.

San Rafael$7,600/mo
Typical home $1.3M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74%+ · or rent about $2,377/mo · Housing →
Brea$6,540/mo
Typical home $1.12M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.73% · or rent about $2,397/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,060 a month, about $12,800 a year, between San Rafael and Brea.

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; “+” means the Census top-codes that town’s bill at $10,000, so its real rate is higher.

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
San RafaelBrea
Snow a year0″0″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)94th89th
Outdoors & history
San RafaelBrea
Trails59 mi22 mi
Conserved land25.9%10.1%
Settled1817—
National Register places81
Archive photos151
Famous people born here6220
Community
San RafaelBrea
Library hours a week61 hrs42 hrs
Colleges in town1—
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

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.

Where they are

382 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

San RafaelCABreaCA
San Rafael ↔ Brea382 miles apart
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.

San RafaelBrea
People
Population 60,433Highest 47,469Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +6.2%Lowest CA: +6.1% +20.5%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 43.2±1.4Highest 14% above CA 39.7±1.4Lowest 5% above CA
Kids under 18 19.7%±1.4Lowest CA: 22% 22.7%±1.9Highest CA: 22%
Brea and San Rafael are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 20.4%±1.5Highest CA: 15.7% 17.2%±1.4Lowest CA: 15.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 49.7%Lowest CA: 37.1% 52.2%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.9%±0.9Lowest CA: 7.6% 7.2%±1.1Highest CA: 7.6%
Brea and San Rafael are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $119,435±$9kLowest 20% above CA $131,129±$12kHighest 32% above CA
Brea and San Rafael are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $1,355,600±$62kHighest 85% above CA $922,300±$24kLowest 26% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,377±$73Lowest 17% above CA $2,397±$82Highest 18% above CA
Brea and San Rafael are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $10,000+Highest at least 95% above CA $6,740Lowest 32% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 57.8%±5.2Highest CA: 55.3% 53.3%±5.2Lowest CA: 55.3%
San Rafael and Brea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11.7%Highest CA: 12% 6.6%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 53%Lowest CA: 55.9% 59.7%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than CA 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 25 minLowest 12% below CA 31 minHighest 9% above CA
Work from home 26.3%±1.7Highest CA: 17.2% 15.4%±2.1Lowest CA: 17.2%
Work in townworking residents 19.1%Highest 8.7%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.8 miHighest 12.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.45Lowest 1.99Highest
Top workplaceoutside town San Francisco (22%)Anaheim (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BreaFew work in San Rafael
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 25.9%Highest 10.1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 59.2 miHighest 21.5 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 2.6 miHighest 1.7 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 28Highest 15Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 63.9Lowest 101Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #216 of 574 in CA#80 of 574 in CA
School district Marin County ROP · Miller Creek ElementaryBrea-Olinda Unified
High school in town San Rafael HighBrea Olinda High
Students per teacherat that high school 19.8Lowest 21.3Highest
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.

San Rafael neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to San Rafael’s Town Square.

Brea neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Brea’s Town Square.

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Bordering San Rafael

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Santa Venetia3,725 people · $1.01M homes
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Ross2,606 people · $2M homes
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Larkspur12,854 people · $2M homes
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San Anselmo12,679 people · $1.58M homes

Towns like San Rafael

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Arcadia55,170 people · $1.44M homes
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South San Francisco64,305 people · $1.19M homes
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Fountain Valley56,258 people · $1.07M homes
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Union City67,464 people · $1.1M homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks California towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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.

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