PlainZIP

Brea, CA · standard

ZIP Code 92821

Orange County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

35,533
1,299/sq mi
$123,629
Median income
$903,200
Median home value
50.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Brea pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

Top 8%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 3%
home value, US ZIPs
1,299
people per sq mi
58%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 92821 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 92821 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Brea, Orange County, California, with 35,533 residents across 27.3 square miles, a density of 1,299 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.

ZIP 92821 skews affluent, with a median household income of $123,629 (22% above the California average), while per-capita income is $55,860. Local economic indicators show a 6.2% poverty rate alongside 5.4% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $903,200 (17% above the state average) with median rent at $2,348 per month, and 57.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 50.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.8, and the average commute is 31 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Orange County, letting you compare 92821 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →

Top industries in ZIP 92821

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Brea, CA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 92821.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 92821, Brea, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

35,533

Population

27.3

Area (sq mi)

1,299

People / sq mi

Los Angeles

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 92821?

39.8

Median Age

47.0%

Male

53.0%

Female

23.3%

Foreign-Born

White 42.2%
African American 1.7%
Asian 26.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 17.1%
Hispanic or Latino 31.5%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$123,629

Median Household Income

+22% vs state

$55,860

Per Capita Income

6.2%

Poverty Rate

5.4%

Unemployment Rate

30.8 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 92821 ranks nationally

Brea, CA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$123,629 Top 8% higher than 92% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). This entry sits in this band. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 64.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 50.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

15,134

Total Housing Units

14,705

Occupied Units

429

Vacant Units

2.82

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 57.5%
Renter 42.5%

$903,200

Median Home Value

+17% vs state

$2,348

Median Rent

1977

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How have home values changed over time?

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+12.5%

YoY Change (2024)

368

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+268%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 92821 have increased 12.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +268% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.8% 249
2021 +11.0% 277
2022 +14.9% 318
2023 +2.8% 327
2024 +12.5% 368

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 2,393 business establishments in ZIP 92821, employing approximately 53,249 people with a combined annual payroll of $4,292,902,000.

2,393

Businesses

53,249

Employees

$4.3B

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Wholesale trade 309 12.9%
Retail trade 306 12.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 305 12.8%
Health care and social assistance 223 9.3%
Accommodation and food services 186 7.8%
Finance and insurance 178 7.4%
Construction 165 6.9%
Other services (except public administration) 160 6.7%
Manufacturing 143 6.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 137 5.7%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 99 4.1%
Transportation and warehousing 64 2.7%
Educational services 39 1.6%
Information 32 1.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 28 1.2%
Management of companies and enterprises 13 0.5%
Utilities 5 0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 92821 vs 92835 →

ZIP 92821 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 92821 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 92821 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 92821 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
92835 Fullerton, CA 24,010 2.6 mi
92831 Fullerton, CA 34,204 3.4 mi
91748 Rowland Heights, CA 45,406 3.5 mi
92870 Placentia, CA 52,033 3.7 mi
92823 Brea, CA 3,613 4.5 mi
90631 La Habra, CA 67,619 3.9 mi
92832 Fullerton, CA 24,752 4.8 mi
92806 Anaheim, CA 37,173 6.2 mi
91792 West Covina, CA 30,854 6.9 mi
92805 Anaheim, CA 70,401 6.8 mi

More ZIP Codes in Orange County

92683 standard
Westminster, CA
Pop: 89,747
92704 standard
Santa Ana, CA
Pop: 88,123
92804 standard
Anaheim, CA
Pop: 85,914
92805 standard
Anaheim, CA
Pop: 70,401
90631 standard
La Habra, CA
Pop: 67,619
92703 standard
Santa Ana, CA
Pop: 65,445

Related Areas

Orange County Brea, CA California

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 92821 in? ▼
ZIP code 92821 (Brea) is located in Orange County, California. Orange County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/orange-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 92821? ▼
ZIP code 92821 in Brea, CA has a population of 35,533 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 92821? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 92821 is $123,629, which is 62% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 92821? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 92821 is $903,200, which is 225% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 92821? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 92821 is White at 42.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 31.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 92821? ▼
ZIP code 92821 has 2,393 business establishments employing approximately 53,249 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 92821? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 92821 are: Wholesale trade (309), Retail trade (306), Professional, scientific, and technical services (305). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 92821? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 92821 increased by 12.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 268%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 92821? ▼
In ZIP code 92821, 64.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 50.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 92821? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 92821 is 30.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 92821? ▼
In ZIP code 92821, approximately 57.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 42.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 92821? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 92821 is 6.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.