COMPARING TWO PLACES
Ithaca vs Brainerd
PLACE A
Ithaca, NY
VS
PLACE B
Brainerd, MN
Ithaca and Brainerd are close in size. Ithaca earns more, with a median household income $2,602 higher.
ITHACABRAINERDDIFFERENCE
Total population104,047100,562+3% vs Brainerd
Population density21933+186
Population growth4.1%5.6%−1.5 pts
Median age32.347.0−14.7
Male48.7%50.5%−1.8 pts
Female51.3%49.5%+1.8 pts
Foreign-born12.9%1.3%+11.6 pts
White, non-Hispanic73.7%89.3%−15.6 pts
Black3.6%0.4%+3.2 pts
Hispanic / Latino6.6%1.7%+4.9 pts
Asian10.1%0.4%+9.7 pts
Other6.0%8.2%−2.2 pts
Median household income$74,024$71,422+$2,602
Per capita income$41,808$40,807+$1,001
Poverty rate16.4%10.8%+5.6 pts
Income inequality (Gini)0.4830.439+0.0
Bachelor's degree or higher58.8%28.3%+30.5 pts
Graduate degree34.8%9.0%+25.9 pts
Unemployment rate5.5%5.8%−0.3 pts
Labor force participation58.4%58.2%+0.2 pts
Median home value$290,900$300,990−$10,090
Median gross rent$1,411$937+$474
Owner-occupied54.1%79.9%−25.8 pts
Housing vacancy rate9.5%36.2%−26.7 pts
Rent-burdened households53.5%38.0%+15.5 pts
Average commute20.123.8−3.6
Worked from home20.0%12.9%+7.1 pts
Public transit to work4.6%0.3%+4.3 pts
Uninsured4.4%5.7%−1.3 pts
Population, 1990 – 2025