Brainerd

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Brainerd, MN Area Guide

Savor the rich natural amenities of Minnesota’s Playground

Suburban Rural Riverside Lakeside Scenic Active Affordable

Located in the heart of Minnesota along the banks of the Mississippi River, Brainerd is known as Minnesota’s Playground for its stunning natural beauty and abundant recreational opportunities. Brainerd is an outdoor lover’s paradise, boasting access to more than 500 lakes in the area as well as countless parks and forests. Brainerd’s reputation for outstanding outdoor activities and scenery also makes it a popular vacation destination.

In addition to plenty of recreational opportunities, Brainerd offers a host of special events to the community, including the Great Pumpkin Festival, Fourth of July Celebration, Arbor Day Celebration, and the annual Ice Skating Party. Brainerd also contains attractions like Brainerd International Raceway, North Central Speedway, Paul Bunyan Amusement Park, and Safari North Wildlife Park. Surrounding communities provide numerous diverse shopping options while the Twin Cities are just two hours’ driving distance south of Brainerd.

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Brainerd, MN is $625 for one bedroom, $866 for two bedrooms, and $1,178 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Brainerd has increased by 7.0% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$625/month
599 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Brainerd, MN

Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Brainerd, MN is for everyday living.

Car-Dependent

33 / 100

This area is considered a car-dependent area and most errands will require a car.

Bikeable

52 / 100

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Lowell Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Riverside Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Harrison Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Garfield Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Paul Bunyan Ed. Coop.

Public

Grades 1-12

Brainerd Senior High

Public

Grades 9-12

Paul Bunyan Ed. Coop.

Public

Grades 1-12

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Crow Wing State Park

Commuter Rail

Top Apartments in Brainerd

Houses for Rent in Brainerd

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.