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Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Brainerd, MN

Considering a move to Brainerd, MN? This friendly lakes-area city of 14,420 features affordable living, with median home prices around $197,000 and rents averaging $950. Residents enjoy a short 17-minute average commute, four distinct seasons (including snowy winters and warm summers), and access to quality healthcare at Essentia Health. While property crime rates are higher than average, Brainerd offers small-town charm, scenic outdoor recreation, and convenient access to local schools and Central Lakes College—making it an attractive choice for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

Demographics - Brainerd, MN

Demographics - Brainerd, MN

Brainerd is home to about 14,420 residents, with a median age of 36.9 and a population density that gives it a community feel. The city is predominantly White (92.8%), with small but diverse minority groups and a nearly even gender balance. About 4% of residents speak a language other than English at home, contributing to a welcoming and accessible atmosphere.

demograph population
Population:
14,420
demograph density
Density:
1,340 per sq mi
demograph median age
Median Age:
36.9
Demograph Gender Ratio
Gender Ratio:
97 males per 100 females
demograph Non English Speakers Percentage
Non-English Speakers Percentage:
4.3%
demograph ethnicCompositionEthnic Composition
demograph whites
White:
92.8%
demograph blacks
Black:
1.1%
demograph asian
Asian:
0.5%
demograph others
Others:
5.6%
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Cost Of Living

Cost Of Living

What is the average cost of living in Brainerd, MN?

Brainerd offers an affordable lifestyle, with a median home value of $197,000 and average rent around $950 per month. The city’s cost of living index is below the national average, making it attractive for families and retirees seeking value. Utilities, groceries, and transportation costs are reasonable, while state income taxes are moderate compared to national rates.

cost of living medianHouseValue
Median House Value:
$197,000
cost of living grossRent
Gross Rent:
$950
cost of living monthlyElectricityCharges
Monthly Electricity Charges:
$115
cost of living autoInsurance
Auto Insurance:
$1,170
cost of living houseownerCostWithMortgage
House Owner Cost With Mortgage:
$1,325
cost of living houseownerCostWithoutMortgage
House Owner Cost Without Mortgage:
$470
cost of living stateTaxes State Taxes:
Low:
5.35%
|
High:
9.85%
cost of living costOfLivingIndex
Cost Of Living Index:
86.7
cost of living grocery
Grocery:
97.2
cost of living housing
Housing:
71.3
cost of living utilities
Utilities:
98.5
cost of living transportation
Transportation:
92.4
cost of living health-care
Health Care:
104.2
cost of living miscellaneous
Miscellaneous:
97.8

Crime

Crime

Is Brainerd, MN a safe place to live?

Brainerd experiences a higher-than-average property crime rate, with about 2,246 incidents per 100,000 residents, but violent crime remains relatively low at 297 per 100,000. The chance of being a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 337. While residents should be mindful of property security, the city maintains a generally safe atmosphere.

crime voilentCrimes
Violent Crimes Per 100k:
297
crime propertyCrime
Property Crimes Per 100k:
2,246
crime crimeIndex
Crime Index:
2,543
crime chanceOfViolentCrime
Chance Of Violent Crime:
1 in 337
crime chanceOfPropertyCrime
Chance Of Property Crime:
1 in 45
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Weather

Weather

What is the weather like in Brainerd, MN year-round?

Brainerd enjoys four distinct seasons, with cold, snowy winters (averaging 1°F to 23°F) and warm, pleasant summers (54°F to 79°F). The city receives about 27 inches of annual rainfall and sees sunshine around 57% of the year. This climate supports a variety of outdoor activities and scenic beauty year-round.

weather winterWinter
weather min
Min:
1°F
weather max
Max:
23°F
weather springSpring
weather min
Min:
29°F
weather max
Max:
60°F
weather summerSummer
weather min
Min:
54°F
weather max
Max:
79°F
weather fallFall
weather min
Min:
32°F
weather max
Max:
59°F
weather averageRainfallInches
Average Rainfall Inches:
27.0 inches
weather sunnyDays Percentage
Sunny Days Percentage:
57%

Neighbors

Neighbors

Households in Brainerd typically earn a median income of $42,800, with a poverty rate of nearly 20%. The area is known for its short average commute of just over 17 minutes and a low unemployment rate. Most residents drive to work, and the neighborhood offers a blend of modest living and community engagement.

neighbor medianIncome
Median Income:
$30,700
neighbor householdIncome
Household Income:
$42,800
neighbor familyIncome
Family Income:
$56,200
neighbor perCapitaIncome
Per Capita Income:
$22,100
neighbor incomeMale
Income Male:
$34,000
neighbor incomeFemale
Income Female:
$27,900
neighbor povertyRate
Poverty Rate:
19.6%
neighbor nonEnglishSpeakers
Non English Speakers:
4.3%
neighbor rent
Rent:
$950
neighbor unemployment
Unemployment Rate:
4.8%
neighbor publicTransport
Public Transport Usage:
0.5%
neighbor commuteTime
Commute Time:
17.1 minutes
neighbor educationEducation
neighbor highSchool
High School or Higher:
88.6%
neighbor bachelors
Bachelors or More:
17.2%
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Education

Education

How are the schools in Brainerd, MN?

Brainerd offers a mix of educational opportunities, featuring public schools like Brainerd High School and Forestview Middle School, as well as private options and Central Lakes College for higher education. The student-teacher ratios are around 1718, supporting personalized learning. The city’s schools and college make it a family-friendly community with accessible academic resources.

education PublicSchoolsPublic Schools
education publicName
Name:
Brainerd High School
education publicStreet
Street:
702 S 5th St
education publicPhone
Phone:
218-454-6200
education publicStudents
Students:
1,900
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
17.3


education publicName
Name:
Forestview Middle School
education publicStreet
Street:
12149 Knollwood Dr
education publicPhone
Phone:
218-454-6000
education publicStudents
Students:
1,970
education publicStudentTeacherRatio
Student Teacher Ratio:
18.1


education privateSchoolsPrivate Schools
education privateName
Name:
St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School
education privateStreet
Street:
817 Juniper St
education privatePhone
Phone:
218-828-2345
education privateStudents
Students:
190


education collegesColleges
education collegeName
Name:
Central Lakes College
education collegeCity
City:
Brainerd
education collegeState
State:
MN
education collegeDistance
Distance:
0 miles
education collegeStudents
Students:
5,400


Healthcare

Healthcare

Brainerd provides quality healthcare access, anchored by Essentia Health - St. Joseph's Medical Center, which offers emergency and general surgical services. There are about 1.9 physicians per 1,000 residents, and over 91% of locals have health insurance coverage. The city’s healthcare index points to reliable and accessible medical care for residents.

healthcare majorHospitals Major Hospitals
healthcare hospitalName
Name:
Essentia Health - St. Joseph's Medical Center
healthcare hospitalAddress
Address:
523 N 3rd St, Brainerd, MN 56401
healthcare hospitalPhone
Phone:
(218) 828-7100
healthcare hospitalType
Type:
General & Surgical
healthcare emergencyServices
Emergency Services:
Yes


healthcare physiciansPer1000
Physicians Per 1000:
1.9
healthcare healthInsuranceCoverage
Health Insurance Coverage:
91.2%
healthcare healthCareIndex
Health Care Index:
72.4
Healthcare
Housing Market

Housing Market

Housing Market

What is the housing market like in Brainerd, MN?

The housing market in Brainerd is affordable, with a median home price of $197,000 and average rent for a two-bedroom at $950. About 48% of homes are owner-occupied, and the city has seen steady appreciation in home values at 7.2% over the past year. Housing options are diverse, with a healthy mix of rentals and homes for buyers.

housing market medianHomePrice
Median Home Price:
$197,000
housing market averageRentFor2Bedroom
Average Rent For 2 Bedroom:
$950
housing market ownerOccupiedRate
Owner Occupied Rate:
47.8%
housing market rentalVacancyRate
Rental Vacancy Rate:
7.3%
housing market homeAppreciationRate1Yr
Home Appreciation Rate (1yr):
7.2%
housing market newConstructionRate
New Construction Rate:
1.2%
housing market foreclosureRate
Foreclosure Rate:
0.7%

DMV Information

DMV Information

Brainerd residents can access driver and vehicle services through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, conveniently located at 213 Laurel St. The office offers a full range of DMV services, including licensing and registration. For more details, residents can visit the department’s official website or call the local office.

dmv state
State:
Minnesota
dmv department
Department:
Minnesota Department of Public Safety - Driver and Vehicle Services
dmv address
Address:
213 Laurel St, Brainerd, MN 56401
dmv phone
Phone:
(651) 297-2126
DMV

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is based on publicly available sources including AccuWeather, U.S. Census Bureau, local government data, and third-party partners such as Neustar. While we strive to ensure accuracy, all data is provided “as is” and should be independently verified before making any decisions. Movers.com makes no guarantees regarding the completeness or reliability of the information.

Top Movers in Brainerd, MN

Planning a relocation in or near Brainerd? We have you covered. Whether you're moving across a street or across town, our dependable network of local movers is ready to handle every aspect of your relocation. Find expert movers who will make your move as seamless, efficient, and stress-free as possible, from packing and loading to transporting and unpacking. Explore specialty moving services, compare estimates, and contact a reputable moving company in Brainerd.

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FAQs About Moving to Brainerd, MN

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Check the cost of living, housing, traffic, and public transit in Brainerd. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, so pick one that fits your lifestyle. Be prepared for Brainerd climate and weather.

Moving within Brainerd usually costs between $300 and $1,500. Moving long distances can cost anywhere from $2,000 to more than $5,000. The price may go up if you need extra services like packing or storage. Fill out Movers.com quote form to compare the quotes easily.

While moves happen year-round, spring and fall are often more comfortable in Brainerd. Booking outside of peak summer or winter seasons can save money and make scheduling easier.

Yes! Majority of moving companies in Brainerd offer full service moving, which means they will help you pack, unpack, and arrange your belongings.

You should plan your move from Brainerd at least 4 to 8 weeks in advance, especially if you're moving during the busy season (summer). You can get better availability, prices, and flexibility with your moving date if you book early. If you book at the last minute, you may have fewer choices or pay more.
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