Brainerd

Population: 14,474
Median household income: $53,705
Median home value: $178,600

Located in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, Brainerd is a community with a population of 14,474. Its median household income of $53,705 runs below the Crow Wing County figure of $71,343.

From 2019 to 2023, Brainerd's population grew 8.2% from 13,373 to 14,474, while its median home value rose 51.5% from $117,900 to $178,600.

The typical home was built around 1970. 16.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 14,474
Median age: 36.1 yrs
Median household income: $53,705
Median home value: $178,600
Median gross rent: $848
Housing units: 6,692
Homeownership rate: 57.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 19.5%
Unemployment rate: 8.1%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

13,37314,474

Median household income

$34,371$53,705

Median home value

$117,900$178,600

Median gross rent

$733$848

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	13,373	$34,371	$117,900	$733
2020	13,423	$36,699	$127,700	$716
2021	14,053	$41,671	$134,800	$750
2022	14,412	$46,933	$162,800	$799
2023	14,474	$53,705	$178,600	$848

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 58.0%

5 to 1713.4%

18 to 2410.4%

25 to 3416.5%

35 to 4413.5%

45 to 548.1%

55 to 6411.9%

65 to 749.2%

75 and over9.1%

	Count	Share
Under 5	1,151	8.0%
5 to 17	1,942	13.4%
18 to 24	1,505	10.4%
25 to 34	2,381	16.5%
35 to 44	1,957	13.5%
45 to 54	1,166	8.1%
55 to 64	1,725	11.9%
65 to 74	1,330	9.2%
75 and over	1,317	9.1%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	12,952	89.5%
Black or African American	225	1.6%
American Indian & Alaska Native	235	1.6%
Asian	72	0.5%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	193	1.3%
Two or more races	402	2.8%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	395	2.7%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma8.0%

High school graduate34.4%

Some college or associate's38.0%

Bachelor's degree12.9%

Graduate or professional degree6.6%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	794	8.0%
High school graduate	3,399	34.4%
Some college or associate's	3,755	38.0%
Bachelor's degree	1,277	12.9%
Graduate or professional degree	651	6.6%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 19 min

Drove alone79.0%

Carpooled10.8%

Public transit1.3%

Walked2.3%

Bicycle0.9%

Worked from home4.5%

Other means1.3%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	5,332	79.0%
Carpooled	728	10.8%
Public transit	86	1.3%
Walked	154	2.3%
Bicycle	62	0.9%
Worked from home	302	4.5%
Other means	88	1.3%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	3,371	52.3%
15 to 29 min	1,685	26.1%
30 to 44 min	812	12.6%
45 to 59 min	307	4.8%
60+ min	275	4.3%

Households

Average household size: 2.17
Poverty rate: 16.7% (2,321 of 13,893)

	Count	Share
Family households	3,438	54.3%
Nonfamily households	2,889	45.7%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1970

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	6,327	94.5%
Vacant	365	5.5%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	3,609	57.0%
Renter-occupied	2,718	43.0%

1-unit, detached59.1%

1-unit, attached4.8%

2 to 4 units7.3%

5 to 19 units14.0%

20 or more units10.7%

Mobile home & other4.1%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	3,957	59.1%
1-unit, attached	319	4.8%
2 to 4 units	486	7.3%
5 to 19 units	939	14.0%
20 or more units	716	10.7%
Mobile home & other	275	4.1%

Geography

Place GEOID: 2707300
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 12 sq mi
Water area: 0.69 sq mi
Center point: 46.3553, -94.1984