Brainerd, MN Micro Area

Metro Area

Population: 97,801 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Brainerd, MN Micro Area

What is the median household income in Brainerd, MN Micro Area?: The median household income in Brainerd, MN Micro Area is $69,311 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Brainerd, MN Micro Area?: The poverty rate in Brainerd, MN Micro Area is 7.2% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Brainerd, MN Micro Area?: $270,500 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Brainerd, MN Micro Area?: The median gross rent in Brainerd, MN Micro Area is $949 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Brainerd, MN Micro Area residents have a college degree?: 27.6% of adults in Brainerd, MN Micro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

97,801

Median Income

$69,311

Median Home Value

$270,500

Poverty Rate

7.2%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

5.4%

Median Age

46.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$14,157 (+25.7%) Home Value: +$73,300 (+37.2%) Poverty Rate: -0.6 pp (-7.7%) Bachelor's+: +3.4 pp (+14%) Unemployment: +1.9 pp (+54.3%)

Demographics

Total Population 97,801

Median Age 46.0

Female 49.6%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 1.6% White (non-Hisp.) 89.7% Black 0.5% Asian 0.5% Two or More 4.7% Other 0.8%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Filipino

0.2%

Korean

0.1%

Vietnamese

0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $69,311 ±$1,667

Per Capita Income $88,721

Median Family Income $88,593

Poverty Rate 7.2%

Child Poverty Rate 12.0%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 8.9%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 31.2%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

3.9%

$10–15k

3.6%

$15–25k

7.1%

$25–35k

6.9%

$35–50k

13.3%

$50–75k

18.8%

$75–100k

13.8%

$100–150k

18.2%

$150–200k

7.4%

$200k+

7.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 66,485

Owner-Occupied 79.7%

Renter-Occupied 20.3%

Vacancy Rate 37.5%

Median Home Value $270,500

Median Gross Rent $949

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 22.1%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 32.6%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

4.7%

$50–100k

5.5%

$100–200k

9.4%

$200–300k

24.4%

$300–500k

26.8%

$500k–$1M

13.9%

$1M+

3.0%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

11.3%

$500–1k

44.0%

$1–1.5k

32.3%

$1.5–2k

10.0%

$2–2.5k

1.3%

$2.5–3.5k

0.2%

$3.5k+

0.9%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

4.7%

1 vehicle

28.9%

2 vehicles

41.3%

25.2%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

82.3%

Single-fam. att.

2.5%

2–4 units

0.8%

5–19 units

1.1%

20+ units

4.0%

Mobile home

6.3%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

7.2%

1940–1969

3.8%

1970–1999

15.0%

2000–2009

20.1%

2010+

9.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 94.5%

Bachelor's or Higher 27.6%

Graduate Degree 8.8%

Some College / Associate 23.9%

Less Than High School 1.1%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 58.8%

Unemployment Rate 5.4%

Work from Home 11.2%

Self-Employed 8.3%

Government Workers 13.9%

Private For-Profit 77.4%

Industry

Edu/Health

25.0%

Retail

12.1%

Arts/Entmt.

10.7%

Construction

10.0%

Manufacturing

9.7%

Prof. Services

7.5%

Finance

6.4%

Transportation

4.4%

Public Admin

4.2%

Wholesale

1.9%

Agriculture

1.9%

Information

1.5%

Occupation

Management

36.9%

Sales

20.2%

Food Prep

18.5%

Production

13.6%

Construction

10.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 23.5 min

Drove Alone 75.1%

Carpool 9.4%

Public Transit 0.4%

Work from Home 11.2%

Walked 2.2%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 41,546

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 52.0%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 15.1%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

4.9%

5–9

5.8%

10–14

6.1%

15–19

5.6%

20–24

4.4%

25–34

10.1%

35–44

11.3%

45–54

10.9%

55–64

7.1%

65–74

8.9%

75–84

14.7%

85+

7.4%

Under 18: 20.6% Working age (18–64): 79.4% 65 and over: 24.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 1.4%

Naturalized Citizen 64.6%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 0.7%

Foreign-Born Origin

Europe

33.8%

Asia

30.4%

Latin America

9.9%

Africa

7.7%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 9.0%

With a Disability 15.4%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 93.9%

Uninsured 6.1%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 87.3%

Has a Computer 94.7%

Same House 1 Year Ago 89.8%

Moved from Abroad 0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023