City · California
Brea, California
Brea, city, in Orange County, California. Brea had 47,260 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 47,325 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 47,469 (±55). GEOID 0608100.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
47,260
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 47,325 · ACS 2020-2024: 47,469 ±55
Median household income
$131,129
±$11,525 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$922,300
±$23,884 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$2,397
±$82 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Brea and what county is it in?
Brea is a city in Orange County, California. It covers 12.6 square miles of land, 3,742 residents per square mile in 2020.
Brea is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Brea, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 47,260 people lived in Brea on July 1, 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, in line with California (−0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 47,325 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 47,469 (±55).
| Measure | Brea | Orange County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 47,469 ±55 | 3,165,820 | +4,791 |
| Households | 16,787 ±646 | 1,082,960 | +1,541 |
| Average household size | 2.82 ±0.11 | 2.87 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 17,373 ±687 | 1,146,169 | +1,450 |
Brea's population since 2000
From 35,410 in 2000 to 47,260 in 2025: up 33.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Brea as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Brea?
The median resident of Brea is 39.7 years old; 22.7% are under 18 and 17.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 35.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 29.9%. 24.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Brea | Orange County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 ±1.4 | 39.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.7% ±1.7 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 17.2% ±1.6 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 47.5% ±1.6 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 29.9% ±3.4 pts | 34.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 35.4% ±3.1 pts | 36.9% | −6.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.8 pts | 1.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 27.7% ±2.3 pts | 22.2% | +6.0 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.9% ±1.2 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 24.4% ±2.3 pts | 30.4% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 36.6% ±2.3 pts | 46.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.2% ±0.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
| With a disability | 8.0% ±1.0 pts | 9.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.4% ±0.9 pts | 6.4% | −1.6 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.8% ±1.6 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 52.2% ±2.5 pts | 44.1% | +6.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 20.7% ±2.0 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.9% ±1.4 pts | 88.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.5% ±0.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Brea earn?
Half of Brea's 16,787 households earn less than $131,129 a year (±$11,525), against $116,289 in Orange County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $116,291 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,838 after inflation. 6.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Brea | Orange County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $131,129 ±$11,525 | $116,289 | +$14,838 |
| Mean household income | $159,788 ±$8,533 | $156,759 | – |
| Per capita income | $57,210 ±$3,554 | $54,557 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 6.6% ±1.3 pts | 9.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.5% ±2.4 pts | 10.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.7% ±1.4 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.6% ±0.7 pts | 97.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.9% ±1.2 pts | 95.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Brea?
Owners occupy 59.7% of Brea's occupied homes and renters 40.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $922,300 by its owner (±$23,884). The median renter pays $2,397 a month including utilities, and 39.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Brea | Orange County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $922,300 ±$23,884 | $962,600 | +$109,550 |
| Median gross rent | $2,397 ±$82 | $2,434 | +$119 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.6% ±4.8 pts | 47.0% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,411 ±$153 | $3,385 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 59.7% ±2.7 pts | 56.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 40.3% ±2.7 pts | 43.6% | – |
| Housing units | 17,373 ±687 | 1,146,169 | +1,450 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.2% ±2.1 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 54.2% ±2.6 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.9% ±0.8 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.9% ±0.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 14.6% ±1.9 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.7% ±0.8 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.5% ±1.6 pts | 4.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Brea building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Brea in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Brea work and get to work?
74.1% of Brea's workers drive alone and 15.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.1%.
| Measure | Brea | Orange County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 65.4% ±2.1 pts | 65.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% ±1.6 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 74.1% ±2.6 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.6% ±1.5 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.4% ±2.3 pts | 18.5% | +9.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 31.2 min ±1.4 | 26.7 min | −2.5 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Brea?
8 census tracts lie mostly in Brea, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $98,235 (Tract 15.04) to $214,491 (Tract 218.32).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 218.14Orange County | 8,058 | $145,174 |
| Tract 15.01Orange County | 6,259 | $115,203 |
| Tract 15.07Orange County | 5,896 | $107,000 |
| Tract 218.32Orange County | 6,741 | $214,491 |
| Tract 15.04Orange County | 4,890 | $98,235 |
| Tract 15.03Orange County | 5,024 | $110,893 |
| Tract 15.06Orange County | 4,119 | $111,821 |
| Tract 14.03Orange County | 3,718 | $184,205 |
| Tract 15.05Orange County | 7,042 | $128,750 |
| Tract 218.31Orange County | 5,654 | $167,853 |
| Tract 14.04Orange County | 3,648 | $99,111 |
| Tract 117.07Orange County | 6,529 | $104,005 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Brea) · Census block assignment files
How does Brea compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Brea is the 871st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 189th-most populous of 483 in California.
Brea ranks 220th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 189th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 173rd | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 342nd | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 220th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 295th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 265th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 235th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 673rd | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 211th | 988 |
| Median age | 537th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 689th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 430th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 313th | 1,069 |
Brea's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Brea with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Brea?
6 of the 57 figures for Brea on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Brea are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Brea.