Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Brea, CA has a Safety Score of 18/100 — higher crime than 82% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,075.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,425 of 2,971 US cities and #210 of 264 in California.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Brea, California Safe?
Brea, California, once known for its oil fields, is a suburban city in northern Orange County. It features a vibrant downtown area and is home to a diverse population of around 47,000 residents.
Brea has a safety score of 18/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,075.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Brea ranks #210 out of 264 cities in California and #2425 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 18th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 82% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Brea is larceny-theft, at 2,439.6 per 100K — 1.5x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Brea's total crime rate decreased by 10.4%, with violent crime declining 9.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Brea Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 103 | 210.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 2.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 6 | 12.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 45 | 92.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 51 | 104.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,401 | 2,865.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 132 | 269.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,193 | 2,439.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 76 | 155.4 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Brea vs California Average
How does Brea's crime rate compare to the California state average?
| Metric | Brea | California Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 210.6 | 518.0 | -59.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,865.0 | 2,161.3 | +32.6% |
| Murder Rate | 2.0 | 4.4 | -53.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,075.6 | 2,679.3 | +14.8% |
Brea Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Brea, California.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 48,901 | 3,075.6 | 210.6 | 2,865.0 |
| 2023 | 46,754 | 3,432.9 | 233.1 | 3,199.7 |
| 2022 | 47,617 | 3,437.9 | 191.1 | 3,246.7 |
| 2021 | 45,023 | 2,829.7 | 184.4 | 2,645.3 |
| 2020 | 43,705 | 2,839.5 | 144.2 | 2,695.3 |
| 2019 | 44,155 | 3,447.0 | 163.1 | 3,283.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brea, California safe?
Brea has a safety score of 18/100, meaning it has less crime than about 18% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,075.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Brea is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Brea, California?
According to FBI data for 2024, Brea has a violent crime rate of 210.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,865.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Brea compare to the national average?
Brea's total crime rate of 3,075.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 48,901 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Brea?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Brea include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Brea safe to visit?
Like any city, Brea has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 18/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.