Signals
Bemidji
Brainerd
Growth
69 · Top 20%
vs74 · Top 13%
Climate
45 · Bottom 1%
vs49 · Bottom 2%
Physical resilience
71 · Top 27%
vs76 · Top 20%
Housing affordability
94 · Bottom 48%
vs86 · Bottom 28%
Access
8 · Bottom 3%
vs36 · Bottom 5%
Economic stability
41 · Bottom 36%
vs44 · Bottom 41%
Measured values
| Metric | Bemidji | Brainerd | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 46,512 | 98,678 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $68,975 | $71,384 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,509 | $40,807 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 19/sq mi | 33/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $237,500 | $301,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,053 | $953 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.1% | 79.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.8% | 28.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 16.1% | 10.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 216 | 865 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.6 | 8.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 38.5% | -4.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 77°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | -3°F | 0°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 22.8" | 24.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 108 mi | 96 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 24.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.3 | 46.8 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Bemidji
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Brainerd
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Full profiles: Bemidji, MN Micro Area · Brainerd, MN Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology