Signals
Brainerd
Bemidji
Growth
74 · Top 13%
vs69 · Top 20%
Climate
49 · Bottom 2%
vs45 · Bottom 1%
Physical resilience
76 · Top 20%
vs71 · Top 27%
Housing affordability
86 · Bottom 28%
vs94 · Bottom 48%
Access
36 · Bottom 5%
vs8 · Bottom 3%
Economic stability
44 · Bottom 41%
vs41 · Bottom 36%
Measured values
| Metric | Brainerd | Bemidji | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 98,678 | 46,512 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,384 | $68,975 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $40,807 | $35,509 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 33/sq mi | 19/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $301,000 | $237,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $953 | $1,053 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.8% | 70.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 31.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 16.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 865 | 216 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.8 | 4.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -4.9% | 38.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 77°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 0°F | -3°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 24.5" | 22.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 96 mi | 108 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 21.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 46.8 | 35.3 | 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
Brainerd
Elevated or high exposure: tornado.
Bemidji
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Brainerd, MN Micro Area · Bemidji, MN Micro Area · How this is calculated: methodology