City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Brainerd, MN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Brainerd - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

14,474
Residents
$53,705
Median income
$178,600
Median home
$1,120
Median rent (state)

Brainerd - the verdict

Nationally, Brainerd sits in the 25th percentile for household income and the 27th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

25th
percentile, household income
36th
percentile, home value
30th
percentile, median rent
27th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Brainerd, MN

14,474 people live in Brainerd, Minnesota - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Brainerd brings in $53,705 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 13.5%. Home values in Brainerd run a median of $178,600, and the median resident age is 36.1 years. About 19.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 59.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 29 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Slowing), down 22% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 2210.1 incidents per 100,000 residents, near the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 41.1°F with 30.6 inches of precipitation per year and 48.2 inches of snowfall.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Minnesota scores 98.6 (Near Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,120 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Minnesota run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Brainerd workers runs 18.0 minutes, with 79.0% driving alone and 4.5% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 77.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

14,474 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$53,705 /yr

Poverty 13.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Brainerd compare to other US cities?

Where Brainerd sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 25% higher than other cities
Home value 36% pricier than other cities
Median rent 30% pricier than other cities
Safety 27% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Minnesota and the picture shifts: Brainerd ranks #196 of 229 Minnesota cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Brainerd's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Minnesota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

25thIncome percentile
27thSafety percentile

25th percentile nationally for median household income · 27th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Brainerd's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Brainerd's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 40 Avg. percentile National median
Brainerd's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Brainerd's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$178,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 64% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Brainerd $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. 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 · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Brainerd, MN Brainerd, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Brainerd, MN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Brainerd, MN median $53,705/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Brainerd, MN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Brainerd, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 19.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
14,474
Median Income
$53,705
Median Home Value
$178,600
Median Age
36.1
Poverty Rate
13.5%
Labor force participation
59.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
19.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2210.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
431.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1779.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
41.1°F
Annual Precipitation
30.6"
Annual Snowfall
48.2"

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
14,350 residents14,400 residents14,450 residents14,500 residents14,550 residents14,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 14,374 residents 14,428 residents ▲ +0.4%
Brainerd's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
29
housing units authorized
Single-Family
17
detached homes
Multifamily
12
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 37
2020 43
2021 34
2022 37
2023 19
2024 29

Permit volume decreased 22% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.0 minutes
Drive Alone
79.0%
Carpool
10.8%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
2.3%
Work from Home
4.5%
Other
2.1%

Based on 6,752 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Minnesota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Brainerd sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,120/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
77.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Alexandria
14,579 people
Monticello
14,607 people
Hutchinson
14,629 people
Robbinsdale
14,318 people
North Mankato
14,212 people
Fergus Falls
14,138 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Brainerd's 14,474 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Hopatcong, NJ
14,470 people
Jasper, AL
14,480 people
Oneonta, NY
14,467 people
Bothell East, WA
14,487 people
Salida, CA
14,457 people
Wilmington Island, GA
14,457 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Brainerd's $53,705 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Owosso, MI
$53,702 median income
Alexis, NC
$53,708 median income
Morris, IN
$53,710 median income
New Salisbury, IN
$53,711 median income
Gallant, AL
$53,698 median income
Atkinson, IL
$53,712 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Brainerd, MN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Brainerd, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.7% White 91.1% Black or African American 1.6% Asian 0.5% American Indian 1.6% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.9% Two or more races 3.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Brainerd compares to nearby Minnesota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Brainerd (this city) 14,474 $53,705
Alexandria 14,579 $61,558
Monticello 14,607 $81,563
Hutchinson 14,629 $71,730
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Brainerd, MN?

What is the population of Brainerd, MN? +

Brainerd, MN has a population of 14,474 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Brainerd, MN? +

Brainerd households earn a median of $53,705 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Brainerd? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Brainerd; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

Is Brainerd, MN safe? +

Brainerd has a total crime rate of 2210.1 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Brainerd, MN? +

A typical home in Brainerd is worth $178,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Brainerd? +

Climate normals put Brainerd's yearly average temperature at 41.1°F, 30.6 inches of precipitation, and 48.2 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.