Median Age
37 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
26%
Over 65
18%
Brainerd
Brainerd, MN Area Guide
Avg Rent
$625
Population
12,999
Renter Mix
46% Rent
Savor the rich natural amenities of Minnesota’s Playground
Suburban
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Rural
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Riverside
•
Lakeside
•
Scenic
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Active
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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.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$48,897
Average: $60,440
Education
2,519
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
6,186
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Brainerd has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
46%
Non-Renters
54%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
13%
Other Education
87%
Rent Trends
As of April 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
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Brainerd, MN is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
40
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
70
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
342 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
472 Students
Public
Grades K-5
229 Students
Discovery Woods Montessori School
Public
Grades K-5
102 Students
Public
Grades K-5
320 Students
Public
Grades 1-12
Public
Grades 9-12
1,842 Students
Public
Grades 1-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
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.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.