Economic Base
A strong commercial and industrial sector offers employment opportunities and a strong tax base which allows Brea citizens to enjoy a high level of public services rarely found in a community of 41,000 people. Brea is a regional retail center offering every conceivable type of goods and services. The diversified business sector includes manufacturing, service industries, retail and distribution outlets, and professional corporations. Brea's median household income as estimated by the 2010 Census is $74,480. Education levels are also high in Brea, with 92.5% of the adult population being high school graduates and of this total, 40% have gone on to earning bachelor's degrees or higher level graduate or professional degrees. 

Housing
Brea enjoys a diverse mixture of housing types, from quaint neighborhoods dating back to the 1920s to modern single-family developments, mixed use developments, planned apartment communities such as The Pointe Apartments, condominiums, townhouses and five mobile home parks. 

In the last decade Brea saw significant residential development in Downtown and Northeast Brea (Carbon Canyon and Valencia). Several projects in the Downtown like the Ash Street Cottages and City Walk sold out very quickly bringing resurgence to this area of town due to an improved urban landscape and strong walkability. The city center (the Brea Boulevard corridor and the Birch Street Promenade) is rich with entertainment and has a celebratory spirit that happens year ‘round. Mixed-Use residential units with rentable work spaces now exist along South Brea Boulevard with the success of the South Brea Lofts (47 units) and Downtown Collection (30 units). 

For the area near Carbon Canyon Road and Valencia Avenue is the Olinda Ranch development with 662 tract homes that were built mostly in the last decade. Further south, at the intersection of Valencia and Imperial Highway is the La Floresta development. This mixed use project features residential and commercial development on a 120-acre site with up to 1,110 new dwelling units. The master developer anticipates that construction of the project will take 5-8 years to complete once the residential market is on more solid footing. The construction of the first planning area with 94 assisted living units called Capriana is now underway with its opening slated for 2013. The Birch Hills Golf Course is presently closed for reconfiguration is also part of this project and will see the development of 247 units adjacent to Kraemer Boulevard. For additional information on the residential units part of this project go to www.LaFlorestaBrea.com.

There are also a number of housing opportunities for senior citizens, including Brea Woods, Breal Senior Apartments, William's Senior Apartments, Heritage Plaza, Vintage Canyon, Orange Villa, and Emeritus at Brea Assisted Living.  

Public Safety
Brea has an outstanding police department with highly-trained personnel and state of the art technology, and special services such as canine units, a bicycle patrol and a Community Action Patrol. The city also provides police service to the city of Yorba Linda on a contract basis. The Brea Fire Department has excellent firefighting and paramedic capabilities. The Basic Fire Insurance rating for the city is 3.

Environment & Public Works
Brea became one of the first cities in Orange County to implement trash recycling in 1989. Brea Disposal, contractor for refuse disposal, furnishes residents with three special receptacles for sorting recyclables and green waste from other refuse, and uses automated equipment for collection.

The city's environmental consciousness is also reflected in the many drought-resistant landscape plantings on city properties, and the use of recycled and recyclable goods in city operations.

A tough anti-graffiti ordinance, community volunteers, and a Graffiti Hot Line have helped keep Brea free from the unsightly blight that plagues many other cities. Graffiti is removed within 24 hours when possible, and perpetrators are prosecuted and made to perform or pay for clean-up.

Brea leaders are committed to a strong public works program including street maintenance, tree trimming, traffic management, street sweeping, and infrastructure such as the water and sewer systems.

Medical Care
Brea offers numerous diverse medical options to its residents.  With a variety of physicians, surgeons and other highly skilled medical professionals in and around the city, the quality of healthcare in Brea is outstanding.

Brea is close neighbors with Placentia-Linda Hospital and St. Jude Regional Medical Center.  These excellent facilities provide quality health care and 24-hour emergency care to the Brea area.

St. Jude Regional Medical Center, located in nearby Fullerton, is one of Southern California's most respected and technologically advanced hospitals.  It is widely recognized for its success in areas from cardiology to extensive rehabilitation.  With more than 600 of the area's finest physicians on staff, St. Jude continues to set the standard for medical care.

Placentia-Linda Hospital is located in the neighoring city of Placentia.  The hospital's services range from general and orthopedic surgery and joint replacement to rehabilitation therapy, and include a highly advanced gastroenterology lab.  Placentia-Linda also features a "Premier Advantage for Seniors 55+" community outreach program.

Education
Brea public schools consistently score above the 90th percentile in state and national achievement tests. Several Brea schools have been recognized as "Blue Ribbon" and "Distinguished" schools. Approximately 80% of graduating seniors attend college annually. 

The Brea Olinda Unified School District operates six elementary schools, one junior high school, a high school, and an alternative high school. Brea Olinda High School boasts state of the art computer technology, a professional performing arts center and complete athletic facilities, including a synthetic track.

Brea also has several preschools, two Christian schools, and a Roman Catholic school serving grades K-8.

Colleges, universities and a number of technical and vocational schools are located in and around Brea. California State University, Fullerton College, Pacific Christian College, Hope University, Western State University College of Law and Southern California College of Optometry are located in nearby Fullerton.