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City · 14,468 residents · Crow Wing County, Minnesota

Brainerd , Minnesota

In Brainerd, a typical home is worth $192,500 and typical rent is $827 a month. Compared with all of Crow Wing County, the typical home value is 37% lower, typical household income is 23% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 21 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $192,500

    37% below the county

    42% below Minnesota

    • Brainerd
    • Crow Wing
    • Minnesota

  • Typical rent

    $827a month

    15% below the county

    35% below Minnesota

    • Brainerd
    • Crow Wing
    • Minnesota

  • Typical household income

    $56,111a year

    23% below the county

    37% below Minnesota

    • Brainerd
    • Crow Wing
    • Minnesota

  • Households that own their home

    57%

    21 points below the county

    16 points below Minnesota

    • Brainerd
    • Crow Wing
    • Minnesota

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$312,858
3.3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,011 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Brainerd is in Crow Wing County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Crow Wing County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Brainerd apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. 57% of households in Brainerd own their home, against 77% in Crow Wing County.

  2. Brainerd has the 6th lowest typical rent of the 148 cities in Minnesota with more than 5,000 people ($827).

  3. Brainerd has the 7th lowest typical household income of the 152 cities in Minnesota with more than 5,000 people ($56,111).

  4. The typical home in Brainerd is worth $192,500, 37% less than in Crow Wing County as a whole ($306,800).

  5. Brainerd has the 11th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 139 cities in Minnesota with more than 5,000 people (39%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Brainerd

What homes there are in Brainerd, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Brainerd, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Crow Wing County, 8.

Year built

The typical home in Brainerd was built in 1971, 17 years before the typical one in Crow Wing County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 92% of owner-occupied homes in Brainerd sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Crow Wing County is $1,172; about 74% of rents in Brainerd are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,420 a month

Crow Wing County: $1,613 a month

Without a mortgage

$539 a month

Crow Wing County: $578 a month

Owners with a mortgage

63%

Crow Wing County: 59%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Brainerd is $1,420 a month, less than in Crow Wing County ($1,613); without one, $539.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Brainerd rose 63% since 2015–2019, more than in Crow Wing County (55%).

The typical rent in Brainerd rose 13% over the same time; in Crow Wing County, it rose 21%.

The typical household income in Brainerd rose 63% over that time; home values changed +63% and rent +13%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureBrainerdCrow Wing CountyMinnesotaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.1%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.172.262.432.53
Drive alone 73%74%69%69%
Carpool 13%9%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%3%
Walk or bike 4%2%3%3%
Work from home 8%13%18%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Crow Wing County, a household in Brainerd has 2.17 people on average.

More people carpool to work in Brainerd than in Crow Wing County: 13% against 9%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Brainerd?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Brainerd, worth $192,500, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 35% of the typical household income in Brainerd, which is $56,111 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $69,388 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Crow Wing County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Brainerd. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,738 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,619

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$189,013
Total interest
$271,945
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,251 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,309 a month

  • Tight

    $1,309 to $1,683 a month

    Your payment · 35%

  • Hard

    more than $1,683 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Brainerd ($56,111 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,619
Principal & interest$1,280
Property tax$173
Home insurance$80
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$85

You need at least $6,738 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Brainerd and Crow Wing County

Brainerd is in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Brainerd's own numbers

Typical home value
$192,500
Typical monthly rent
$827
Typical yearly household income
$56,111
Households that own their home
57%
Effective property tax rate
1.08%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Crow Wing County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,172
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+58%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.6%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Crow Wing County.

Everything about Crow Wing County

Buying

Buying a home in Brainerd

A typical home in Brainerd is worth $192,500: 37% below the county and 42% below Minnesota. With the typical household income in Brainerd ($56,111 a year), a typical home costs 3.4 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Brainerd 3.4 years
  • Crow Wing 4.2 years
  • Minnesota 3.7 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Crow Wing County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Crow Wing County rose 96% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Crow Wing County.

Period County Minnesota U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.7% +2.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +58% +37% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +96% +71% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Brainerd next to Crow Wing County, Minnesota and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Brainerd $192,500
  • Crow Wing $306,800
  • Minnesota $329,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Brainerd $827
  • Crow Wing $971
  • Minnesota $1,280
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Brainerd $56,111
  • Crow Wing $72,589
  • Minnesota $89,062
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Brainerd next to Crow Wing County and Minnesota
Measure Brainerd Crow Wing County Minnesota U.S.
Typical home value $192,500 $306,800 $329,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $827 $971 $1,280 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $56,111 $72,589 $89,062 $80,734
Households that own their home 57% 77% 72% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,082 $2,283 $3,357 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.08% 0.74% 1.02% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 39% 45% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Crow Wing County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Brainerd

For a typical $192,500 home in Brainerd, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Brainerd's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,619a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,738
    Cash to close
    $12,513
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $85

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,584a month

    Down payment
    $9,625
    Cash to close
    $15,400
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $91

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,297a month

    Down payment
    $38,500
    Cash to close
    $44,275
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,475a month

    Down payment
    $28,875
    Cash to close
    $34,650
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Brainerd and for Crow Wing County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Brainerd

1.08%of the home’s value each year

$2,082 a year for the typical owner in Brainerd.

  • Brainerd 1.08%
  • Crow Wing 0.74%
  • Minnesota 1.02%

What Minnesota publishes Homestead market value exclusion (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (Minnesota Statutes))

Exemptions and deadlines in Minnesota

Flood risk in Crow Wing County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Crow Wing County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.6%
661
Of those, with NFIP insurance
10%
County Minnesota U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.6% 0.7% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 10% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Brainerd

Typical rent in Brainerd is $827 a month: 15% below the county. In Brainerd, 39% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Crow Wing County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,172 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $22.54 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Crow Wing County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $816 $15.69 $32,640
1 bedroom $899 $17.29 $35,960
2 bedrooms $1,172 $22.54 $46,880
3 bedrooms $1,407 $27.06 $56,280
4 bedrooms $1,609 $30.94 $64,360

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Brainerd

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Brainerd is in ZIP code 56401.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,100: $72 less than the fair market rent for Crow Wing County ($1,172).

  • 56401 $1,100$1,330

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Brainerd when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Brainerd

HUD lists 11 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Brainerd. These are the largest.

  • North Star Apartments 410 E River Rd, Brainerd 56401 203 low-income homes · Run by Hra in and for the City of Brainerd, Minnesota · Average payment: $437 a month · Average wait: 9 months · Homes at several sites (218) 828-3705
  • Mississippi Terrace Apts 215 SW 4th St, Brainerd 56401 113 low-income homes · For families (218) 829-0274
  • Timberland Townhomes Multiple Building Addresses, Brainerd 56401 30 homes, 29 low-income · 2 bd: 15 · 3 bd: 15 · In service since 2003 · For families
  • Franklin Center (fka Franklin Artist Lofts) 1001 Kingwood St, Brainerd 56401 25 low-income homes · Studio: 7 · 1 bd: 11 · 2 bd: 5 · 3 bd: 2 · In service since 2009 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Northern Lights Apartments 511 D St NE, Brainerd 56401 25 low-income homes · For people with disabilities (218) 829-8663

See all 22 buildings in Crow Wing County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Brainerd

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Crow Wing County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Brainerd

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Brainerd or Crow Wing County. The ones below are statewide in Minnesota: they work in Brainerd the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Minnesota

  • Deferred Payment Loan (Start Up)

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota state agency loan for the down payment and closing costs alongside the Start Up mortgage for first-time buyers: up to $14,000 (or $18,000 in the Plus version), with no interest or monthly payments, repaid at the end of the mortgage. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Monthly Payment Loan

    Statewide in Minnesota

    Minnesota Housing loan of up to $14,000 for the down payment and closing costs, which you repay over 15 years at the same rate as your Minnesota Housing mortgage; it works with Start Up (first-time buyers) or Step Up. Offered by Minnesota Housing (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Brainerd

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Brainerd, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota

    716 E Street, Brainerd · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 1 more
    (888) 577-2227

  • Kootasca Community Action, Inc.

    822 NE 5th Ave, Grand Rapids · 69 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    218-999-0800x0828

  • White Earth Investment Initiative

    103 Graystone Plz, Detroit Lakes · 85 miles away

    • Home improvement and repairs
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (218) 844-7029

Every agency in Crow Wing County All counseling agencies in Minnesota

Help in Spanish near Brainerd

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Brainerd

HUD’s record names them for Brainerd or Crow Wing County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Hra in and for the City of Brainerd, Minnesota Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (218) 828-3705

2 other authorities have an office in Crow Wing County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Crow Wing County

These cities are also in Crow Wing County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Crow Wing County Housing in Minnesota

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Brainerd, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Crow Wing County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Brainerd.

All guides
Three women of one family talk as they cook vegetables in the kitchen.

Questions

Housing questions about Brainerd

Short answers with the numbers for Brainerd and all of Crow Wing County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Brainerd?

The typical home value in Brainerd is $192,500, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Crow Wing County it is $306,800.

How much does it cost to rent in Brainerd?

Typical rent in Brainerd is $827 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Crow Wing County is $1,172.

What is the FHA loan limit in Brainerd?

Brainerd uses the FHA limit for all of Crow Wing County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Brainerd?

The typical homeowner in Brainerd pays $2,082 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.08% of the home’s value; in Crow Wing County, the rate is 0.74%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Brainerd?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Crow Wing County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).