ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 92821

Part of Brea, CA

Pop. 41,623·Orange County·493rd most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$2,727/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.1%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

+$795

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 92821 · $2,727

More expensive than 85% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,046

1 BR

$2,097

2 BR

$2,471

3 BR

$3,351

4 BR+

$4,004

Research median

$2,471/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

February. Asking rents in ZIP 92821 usually run 1.2% below trend in February and 1.2% above it in August, about $65 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 92821 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2018.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 92821 changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 92821 rose 32.6% while median household income rose 35.1% ($91,531 to $123,629). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 92821 is 37.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($123,629) is $3,091 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,860); a 2-bedroom is $3,370.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 91748, 3 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,390/mo), about $4,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 92821. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$32,724/yr

At $2,727/mo median

Location

CityBrea

StateCA

CountyOrange County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.1% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 92821 (Brea, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 50.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

41,623

Median income

$123,629

Median age

39.8

Renters

42.5%

Age distribution

22.9%

21.5%

27.5%

17.5%

Under 1822.9%

18–3421.5%

35–5427.5%

55–6410.6%

65+17.5%

Gender

47%

53%

Male47%

Female53%

Race & ethnicity

42.2%

31.5%

26.4%

White42.2%

Black1.7%

Hispanic31.5%

Asian26.4%

Education (25+)

14.1%

27.9%

50.5%

No HS diploma7.5%

HS diploma14.1%

Some college27.9%

Bachelor's+50.5%

Housing tenure

57.5%

42.5%

Owner57.5%

Renter42.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 92821 in Brea, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,060 → $2,727

up 32.4%

Income

$105,330 → $123,629

up 17.4%

Population

41,286 → 41,623

up 0.8%

Renter share

40% → 42.5%

+2.5 pts

Bachelor's+

48.1% → 50.5%

+2.4 pts

Median age

40.7 → 39.8

-0.9 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 92821 in Brea, CA has increased by $667 per month, settling near $2,727 after starting the period at $2,060. Census figures show median household income at $123,629 today, compared with $105,330 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 15.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 42.5% of households rent today, against 40% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 48.1% to 50.5%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 92821

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 92821 covers Brea, CA. The median rent here is $2,727/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,097/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,471/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($123,629/yr), ZIP 92821 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 92821?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $109,000/year (about $52/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,727/mo in ZIP 92821. The local median household income is $123,629/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 92821?

Rent in ZIP 92821 has risen 2.1% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2018.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 92821?

Asking rents in ZIP 92821 are usually lowest in February, about 1.2% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $65 a month. This pattern comes from 7 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 92821?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 92821 rose 32.6% while median household income rose 35.1%, from $91,531 to $123,629. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 92821 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 92821 is in the middle among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #493 of 898 at $2,727/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 92821 changed +2.1%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.