Brainerd city, Minnesota
Brainerd city profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
Brainerd city is a geographic entity located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 14,428. The land area covers 12.13 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population (2025 PEP Estimate) | 14,428 | — | 2025 / Census |
| Median Age | 35.1 yrs | ±2.2 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 6,348 | ±295 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 6,760 | ±281 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 6,348 | ±295 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 412 | ±178 |
| Median Home Value | $192,500 | ±$13,543 |
| Median Gross Rent | $827 | ±$57 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $56,111 | ±$6,610 |
| Per Capita Income | $31,316 | ±$1,918 |
| Poverty Rate | 15% | ±3.8% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 2,095 | ±528 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9% | ±3.1% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 6,758 | ±502 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 87.3% | ±2.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 14,400 (2024)
ID: 106778
|
Municipal | Official Local Government |
Contact: CITY ADMINISTRATOR
501 LAUREL ST, BRAINERD MN 56401-3595
|
|
GUS Population: 68,642 (2024)
ID: 167355
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: CHAIRMAN
326 LAUREL STREET, SUITE 13, BRAINERD MN 56401-3585
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | PK-04 | BAXTER, MN | |
| Special Education School Nearby | PK | BAXTER, MN | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | BRAINERD, MN | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | BRAINERD, MN | |
| Regular School Nearby | 07-12 | PILLAGER, MN | |
| Regular School Nearby | 07-12 | CROSBY, MN | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-06 | CROSBY, MN | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-06 | BRAINERD, MN | |
| Regular School Nearby | 05-08 | BAXTER, MN | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-04 | BRAINERD, MN |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 4 civic institutions across 3 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ESSENTIA HEALTH ST JOSEPH'S MEDICAL CENTER
|
Hospital | City address association | 523 NORTH 3RD STREET, BRAINERD, MN, 56401 |
(218) 829-2861
|
|
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
|
College | 1.1 mi away | 501 West College Drive, Brainerd, MN, 56401-3900 |
2188558000
|
|
BRAINERD PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 0.2 mi away | 416 S 5TH STREET, BRAINERD, MN, 56401 |
(218) 829-5574
|
|
CROSBY: JESSIE F. HALLETT MEMORIAL LIBRARY
|
Library | 14.7 mi away | 101 1ST STREET SE, CROSBY, MN, 56441 |
(218) 546-8005
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at BRAINERD, MN US, located 1.0 miles from Brainerd city. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19.6° | -2.0° | 8.8° | 0.80" | 10.0" |
| February | 25.4° | 0.9° | 13.2° | 0.78" | 8.3" |
| March | 38.4° | 14.8° | 26.6° | 1.47" | 9.2" |
| April | 53.0° | 28.8° | 40.9° | 2.54" | 4.3" |
| May | 66.6° | 42.8° | 54.7° | 3.93" | 0.0" |
| June | 75.8° | 53.3° | 64.6° | 4.64" | 0.0" |
| July | 80.1° | 57.8° | 68.9° | 4.37" | 0.0" |
| August | 78.4° | 55.0° | 66.7° | 3.59" | 0.0" |
| September | 69.9° | 46.2° | 58.1° | 3.00" | 0.0" |
| October | 55.2° | 33.8° | 44.5° | 2.98" | 0.7" |
| November | 38.3° | 20.8° | 29.6° | 1.49" | 5.7" |
| December | 24.8° | 7.4° | 16.1° | 1.04" | 10.0" |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brainerd city | City | 0.0 mi | — |
| Baxter city | City | 3.8 mi | — |
| Merrifield CDP | CDP | 7.8 mi | — |
| East Gull Lake city | City | 8.4 mi | — |
| Riverton city | City | 9.9 mi | — |
| Nisswa city | City | 11.1 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 2703507300. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.