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 High-density area
- $123,629
- Median income Above-median income area
- $903,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 50.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 92821 (Brea, CA) rose +12.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 326.6 in 2023 to 367.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
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 average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $55,860. The poverty rate is 6.2%, with unemployment at 5.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $903,200 (17% above the average California ZIP) and median rent is $2,348; 57.5% of occupied homes 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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Orange County, so 92821 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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.
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
309 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
306 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
305 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
223 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
186 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, 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
Who lives in ZIP 92821?
39.8
Median Age
47.0%
Male
53.0%
Female
23.3%
Foreign-Born
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 ZIP avg
$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
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,134housing units
15,134
Total Housing Units
14,705
Occupied Units
429
Vacant Units
2.82
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$903,200
Median Home Value
+17% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 92805
Anaheim (92805)
70,401 residents
- 90631
La Habra (90631)
67,619 residents
- 92870
Placentia (92870)
52,033 residents
- 91748
Rowland Heights (91748)
45,406 residents
- 92806
Anaheim (92806)
37,173 residents
- 92821
Brea (92821)
35,533 residents
- 92831
Fullerton (92831)
34,204 residents
- 91792
West Covina (91792)
30,854 residents
- 92832 24,752
Fullerton (92832)
24,752 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 92821 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 92821 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 92823
Brea (92823)
$169,900 median income
- 92835
Fullerton (92835)
$143,817 median income
- 92821
Brea (92821)
$123,629 median income
- 92870
Placentia (92870)
$115,929 median income
- 90631
La Habra (90631)
$104,251 median income
- 92806
Anaheim (92806)
$97,265 median income
- 91792
West Covina (91792)
$94,817 median income
- 92832
Fullerton (92832)
$94,275 median income
- 92805
Anaheim (92805)
$91,252 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 92821, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (35,533 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Orange County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 92821's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 92821 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Brea, CA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.