56401 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
56401
56601
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 15%
vs29 · Bottom 8%
Growth
66 · Top 21%
vs49 · Bottom 47%
Climate
49 · Bottom 1%
vs45 · Bottom 1%
Physical resilience
71 · Top 34%
vs67 · Top 39%
Housing affordability
94 · Top 24%
vs93 · Top 25%
Schools
63 · Top 35%
vs52 · Top 50%
Access
34 · Bottom 1%
vs11 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
51 · Bottom 34%
vs50 · Bottom 33%
Measured values
| Metric | 56401 | 56601 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 31,841 | 34,784 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $73,128 | $72,262 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,969 | $38,496 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 99/sq mi | 94/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $261,600 | $260,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $883 | $1,088 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.6% | 67.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | 6.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -3.1% | -2.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 37.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 13.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 159 | 43 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 11.0 | 2.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 28.2% | 104.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 79°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 0°F | -4°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 24.5" | 26.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 99 mi | 102 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 20.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.4 | 35.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 22 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.86 | 14.16 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 57.9% | 48.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 51.8% | 46.7% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 42.3% | 44.5% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
56401
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding, tornado.
56601
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: 56401 — Brainerd, MN · 56601 — Bemidji, MN · How this is calculated: methodology