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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Brainerd Micro

Brainerd, MN · 2 counties · 100,562 residents (2025 est.) · 3,019.823 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#40Highest homeownership rateof 92579.9%
The short version

Brainerd has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $71,422. Population has grown 20% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $300,990. With a median age of 47.0, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It sits in the top 10% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 62%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
98,678
+20%since 2000
from 82,249 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
33 / sq mi
+20%since 2000
from 27 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
47.0
+17%since 2000
from 40.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:100,562 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
63K73K82K92K102K1990201020202024Brainerd
202499K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$71,422
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $36,514 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$40,807
+120%since 2000
from $18,519 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
47.8%
+24.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 11.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.439
+3%since 2010
from 0.425 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade10.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade10.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Finance & insurance4.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.2%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$300,990
+62%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $101,961 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$937
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $429 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
79.9%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 81.7% in 2000
20.1% rent
Vacancy rate
36.2%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 37.4% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
21.7%
−7.8 ptssince 2009
from 29.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 40.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.2
+51%since 2000
from 2.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
62
RELATED:See current rent listings in Brainerd on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.6%(76,957)
Black0.2%(198)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(601)
Asian0.3%(221)
Other0%
Diversity Score3.2%(2,665)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic89.3%(88,133)
Black0.4%(424)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(1,654)
Asian0.4%(410)
Other8.2%(8,057)
Diversity Score24.4%(24,093)
Segregation Score35.2%(34,700)
Diversity Score
24
+654%since 2000
from 3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
35
−15%since 2020
from 41 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
28.3%
+10.5 ptssince 2000
from 17.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.5%
+9.0 ptssince 2000
from 85.5% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 5.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.8 min
+71%since 2000
from 13.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
73.6%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
12.9%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.0%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.7%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.8%
−2.8 ptssince 2011
from 8.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.2%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 61.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.5%
−26.2 ptssince 2009
from 62.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
49.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.3%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.7%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2012
from 14.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.7%
−84.2 ptssince 2013
from 89.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.7%
+12.5 ptssince 2017
from 77.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.7%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 97.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.7%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

BrainerdCENTRAL14,428
What's inside

2 component counties

Crow Wing CountyCENTRAL69,132Cass County31,430
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Brainerd

Kankakee
Pop 105,525
Adrian
Pop 97,779
Grand Forks
Pop 105,046
Ithaca
Pop 104,047
Places similar to Brainerd
Head to head

Compare Brainerd side by side

BRAINERD VS
Kankakee
Income$71,281same
Home value$192,600−36%
Population105,525+5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRAINERD VS
Adrian
Income$70,518−1%
Home value$196,800−35%
Population97,779−3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRAINERD VS
Grand Forks
Income$69,566−3%
Home value$243,841−19%
Population105,046+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BRAINERD VS
Ithaca
Income$74,024+4%
Home value$290,900−3%
Population104,047+3%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Brainerd, MN?

Brainerd, MN has about 98,678 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Brainerd, MN?

The typical household in Brainerd, MN earns about $71,422 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Brainerd, MN expensive?

In Brainerd, MN, the median home is worth about $300,990, and the typical rent is about $937 a month.

How educated are people in Brainerd, MN?

About 28.3% of adults age 25 and over in Brainerd, MN hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Brainerd, MN?

About 10.8% of people in Brainerd, MN live below the federal poverty line.

Has Brainerd, MN grown since 1990?

Yes, Brainerd, MN has grown since 1990. The population has added about 32,638 residents, a change of about 49 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →