CensusEasy
CITY

Brainerd

Minnesota · 14,428 residents (2025 est.) · 12.13 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Brainerd micropolitan area
Compare
The short version

Brainerd has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,111. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $192,500. Households here earn about 37% less than the Minnesota median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 35.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 57%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
14,468
+10%since 2000
from 13,178 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,193 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 1,086 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
35.1
+7%since 2000
from 32.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:14,428 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
12K13K13K14K15K1990201020202024Brainerd
202414K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,111
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,901 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$31,316
+99%since 2000
from $15,744 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.8%
+26.0 ptssince 2009
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2000
from 17.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.403
−6%since 2010
from 0.427 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.8%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade9%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services7.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance3.4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$192,500
+57%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $67,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$827
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $445 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
56.5%
+2.6 ptssince 2000
from 53.9% in 2000
43.5% rent
Vacancy rate
6.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
23.5%
−9.4 ptssince 2009
from 32.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.5%
−7.5 ptssince 2009
from 44.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+37%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
52
RELATED:See current rent listings in Brainerd on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.4%(12,567)
Black0.7%(94)
Hispanic / Latino0.9%(113)
Asian0.5%(60)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.1%(676)
2024
White, non-Hispanic91.5%(13,236)
Black0.8%(113)
Hispanic / Latino3.1%(446)
Asian0.1%(14)
Other4.6%(659)
Diversity Score20%(2,893)
Diversity Score
20
+290%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.3%
+6.3 ptssince 2000
from 14.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.4%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 83.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.8 min
+71%since 2000
from 11.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 75.8% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.1%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 14.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.5%
+5.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.7%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
1.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
12.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2011
from 12.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 63.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.0%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.5%
−30.8 ptssince 2009
from 63.3% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
53.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
1.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.0%
−39.9 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
21.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2012
from 20.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.8%
−79.1 ptssince 2013
from 84.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
87.3%
+12.3 ptssince 2017
from 75.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.1%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 98.0% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.2%
+1.0 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Brainerd

Elfers
Pop 15,006
Holly Hill
Pop 13,268
Orange City
Pop 15,309
Lake City
Pop 12,788
Places similar to Brainerd
Head to head

Compare Brainerd to nearby cities

BRAINERD VS
Baxter
Income$70,688+26%
Home value$324,100+68%
Population9,217−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRAINERD VS
Little Falls
Income$47,863−15%
Home value$202,600+5%
Population9,277−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRAINERD VS
Sartell
Income$84,131+50%
Home value$297,300+54%
Population19,918+38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRAINERD VS
Sauk Rapids
Income$71,841+28%
Home value$256,100+33%
Population13,768−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Brainerd, Minnesota?

Brainerd, Minnesota has about 14,468 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Brainerd, Minnesota?

The typical household in Brainerd, Minnesota earns about $56,111 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Brainerd, Minnesota expensive?

In Brainerd, Minnesota, the median home is worth about $192,500, and the typical rent is about $827 a month.

How educated are people in Brainerd, Minnesota?

About 20.3% of adults age 25 and over in Brainerd, Minnesota hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Brainerd, Minnesota?

About 15.0% of people in Brainerd, Minnesota live below the federal poverty line.

Has Brainerd, Minnesota grown since 1990?

Yes, Brainerd, Minnesota has grown since 1990. The population has added about 2,115 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
Minnesota
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Brainerd with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →