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Living in
Brea.
About
Life in Brea
Brea is a comfortable, established suburb that works well if you want solid schools, financial stability, and proximity to LA without living in the city itself. The median home price sits around $922,000 and rents average $2,397, which reflects Orange County's overall cost structure—you're paying for stability and good demographics rather than cutting-edge culture. About half the adult population holds college degrees, household incomes median at about $131,000, and unemployment is low at 4.3%, suggesting a economically resilient community.
Brea at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Foreign-Born
24.4%
Broadband Internet
95.9%
of households
Population Growth
-0.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics24.4% foreign-born, most often from Korea
Who lives in Brea: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brea, the largest foreign-born group is from Korea (19.8%), and 14.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.7%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.2%
of households
Married Couples
58.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.82
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 18% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Brea
In Brea, rent runs 18% above the CA average, and home values are 26% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,740
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
59.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,116,557 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Brea and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Brea is 1.2 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Brea Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute31.2 min avg
How Brea residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brea, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 49% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Long Beach International Airport (LGB)
Small hub1.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 17 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 30 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 42% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Brea runs 42% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
191.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,225.1
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Brea Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Orange County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Orange County, which includes Brea, the most common type is high wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Heavy Rain | $40,000 |
| 2024 | 25 | High Wind | $30,000 |
| 2023 | 37 | High Wind | $50,000 |
| 2022 | 42 | High Wind | $60.0M |
| 2021 | 40 | High Wind | $952,000 |
| 2020 | 30 | High Wind | $105,000 |
| 2019 | 33 | High Surf | $125,500 |
| 2018 | 23 | High Surf | $20,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
207 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Brea is about 2% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Orange County, which includes Brea, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
138
per year
Moderate Days
214
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Orange County, county-wide
Brea is about 2% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate86°F summers, 49°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brea has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and warm winters (avg low 49°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
83°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
71°/49°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
13.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
35
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 49°F | 3.16" |
| Feb | 71°F | 49°F | 3.05" |
| Mar | 74°F | 51°F | 1.80" |
| Apr | 77°F | 54°F | 0.70" |
| May | 78°F | 58°F | 0.41" |
| Jun | 82°F | 62°F | 0.11" |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 0.11" |
| Aug | 89°F | 66°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 88°F | 64°F | 0.15" |
| Oct | 83°F | 59°F | 0.62" |
| Nov | 77°F | 53°F | 1.01" |
| Dec | 71°F | 48°F | 2.39" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brea
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Brea's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Providence St. Jude Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.3 mi away · Fullerton
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Anaheim
Ahmc Anaheim Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Anaheim
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education23.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brea
Brea's student/teacher ratio is 23.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 52.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
10
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
52.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Brea (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
3.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 38,546 students · in-state tuition $7,952 · 80% graduate · median earnings $69,015 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 26,140 students · in-state tuition $1,364 · 35% graduate · median earnings $49,600 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 17,121 students · in-state tuition $1,150 · 28% graduate · median earnings $49,216 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,579 students · in-state tuition $1,160 · 26% graduate · median earnings $52,421 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,478 students · in-state tuition $67,894 · 82% graduate · median earnings $80,694 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,393 students · in-state tuition $1,186 · 18% graduate · median earnings $51,338 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 37 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brea
Brea has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (37 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
37 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
53 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
94 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brea
Brea Branch Library
1 Civic Center Circle, Brea
Cities Near Brea
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brea?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brea FAQ
Is Brea, California affordable?⌄
Brea's median rent is $2,397/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $131,129/year. Median home value is $922,300.
Is Brea, California safe?⌄
Brea's violent crime rate was 192 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2225 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brea, California?⌄
Brea has an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brea, California?⌄
The cost of living in Brea is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,397/month and median household income is $131,129/year. The median home value is $922,300. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brea, California?⌄
The average commute in Brea is 31 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from