Brainerd, MN

Census place 2707300 · pop 14,468

D−48/ 100
🫤 Rough
F
in MN
📍 Minnesota ranks #5 of 50 states →
🏆 Disaster41/100 · top 7%
🚽 Smoking17.7% · bottom 15%
Taxes
1.08% property · US 0.99%8.14% sales · US 7.00%up to 9.85% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Adult smoking17.7%15

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

17.7% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.5%21

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Violent crime rate431/100k22

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

431 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Broadband access87.3%22

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

87.3% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Median household income$56,11122

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$56,111 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Bachelor's degree or higher20.3%23

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

20.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Adult obesity38.9%25

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

38.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Homeownership56.5%29

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

56.5% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Property crime rate1786/100k34

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

1786 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Poverty rate15.0%34

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

15.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Physical inactivity26.8%40

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

26.8% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poor mental health17.5%44

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

17.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Property-tax burden1.08%44

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.08% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Uninsured adults9.1%54

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

9.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Housing cost$192,50073

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$192,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Income inequality0.4074

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.40 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Population growth (5yr)+8.2%76

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+8.2% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Commute time20 min76

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

20 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Air quality (AQI)County-level38 AQI77

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

38 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$1,109/mo92

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,109/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Natural disaster riskCounty-level41/10093

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

41/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Frequently asked

Is Brainerd, MN a good place to live?
By the numbers, Brainerd scores 48/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is natural disaster risk and its weakest is adult smoking. Minnesota overall ranks #5 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Brainerd, MN?
Brainerd reports 431 violent crimes per 100k and 1786 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Brainerd, MN expensive to live in?
Brainerd has a median home value of $192,500 and typical rent around $1,109/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Brainerd, MN?
Its weakest measured area is adult smoking (17.7%) — 15/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Brainerd, MN best at?
Its strongest measured area is natural disaster risk (41/100) — 93/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.