The Town FilesBrainerd, Minnesota
City in Crow Wing County · population 14,395 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,500
- Household income
- $56,111
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 35.1
Brainerd is a city of 14,395 people in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $192,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks hipper than 92% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 89% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 86% of Minnesota towns.
How Brainerd ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Brainerd is worth $192,500, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $56,111, which is more affordable than 50% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $827 a month. 56.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brainerd | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,500 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $827 | $991 |
| Median household income | $56,111 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 56.5% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Brainerd
| People | Brainerd | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in Brainerd
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows -2.0°F. About 30.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.2 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brainerd since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 5, 1991 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 16, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 23, 2022.
Severe weather in Crow Wing County since 1996
Crow Wing County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Crow Wing County
Crow Wing County had 31,053 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,044 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Brainerd itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Public schools in Brainerd
10 public schools with 3,541 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRAINERD SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,833 | 20.6 |
| RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY | PK-4 | 461 | 11.0 |
| LOWELL ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 369 | 13.7 |
| GARFIELD ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 278 | 10.7 |
| HARRISON ELEMENTARY | K-4 | 224 | 12.4 |
| ISD 181 LEARNING CENTER | 8-12 | 159 | 14.5 |
| Discovery Woods (charter) | K-6 | 104 | 9.5 |
| LINCOLN EDUCATION CENTER | 2-12 | 98 | 8.2 |
| MIDDLE LEVEL ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM | 5-8 | 15 | 7.5 |
| Brainerd Online School | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Brainerd
- Baxter, MN3.8 mi · 8,612 people · home $324,100
- Sylvan, MN9.6 mi · 2,889 people · home $298,200
- Breezy Point, MN17.5 mi · 2,574 people · home $340,800
- Little Falls, MN26.7 mi · 9,140 people · home $202,600
- Staples, MN29.4 mi · 2,989 people · home $130,000
Brainerd questions
Is Brainerd, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brainerd scores better for retirees than 21% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 11%. 17.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Brainerd?
The median owner-occupied home in Brainerd is valued at $192,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,111, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $827 a month.
What is the weather like in Brainerd?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows -2.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.6 inches of precipitation a year and 48.2 inches of snow.
Does Brainerd get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brainerd since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 5, 1991. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)