Brainerd vs Ironton
Brainerd, Minnesota versus Ironton, Minnesota: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Ironton edges out Brainerd on overall objective livability (50 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Brainerd | Ironton |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $47k | $48k |
| Cost of Living | $44k | $44k |
| Home Value | $163k | $128k |
| Monthly Rent | $799 | $900 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $3k | $134 |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.03% | 0.71% |
| Income Tax | 9.90% | 9.90% |
| Sales Tax | 8.04% | 8.04% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 16.13% | 14.42% |
| Unemployment | 7.4% | 8.0% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 11°F | 10°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 70°F | 69°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.6 in | 29.6 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 48.2 in | 48.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 234 days | 234 days |
| Summer Humidity | 59°F | 59°F |
| Comfortable Days | 76 days | 75 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 64.4 | 56.5 |
| Air Quality | 48 AQI | 47 AQI |
| School Quality | 94.7 | 87.1 |
| Violent Crime | 2834/100k | 942/100k |
| Property Crime | 2327/100k | 1131/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 14,412 | 559 |
| Median Age | 36.0 | 35.8 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.14 | 0.09 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.87 | 0.85 |
| Political Leaning | R+30 | R+30 |
| White (%) | 90.4% | 95.3% |
| Black (%) | 1.1% | 0.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 3.2% | 0.0% |
| Asian (%) | 0.4% | 1.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.8% | 3.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 18 min | — |
| Walkability | 7.8/20 | 7.3/20 |
| Airport Distance | 112 mi | 117 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 82.6% | 81.1% |
| Amenities Nearby | 23.59 | 250.45 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Brainerd or Ironton more affordable?
- Ironton has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Brainerd's $44k and Ironton's $44k. Median rent is $799 in Brainerd versus $900 in Ironton.
- Is Brainerd or Ironton safer?
- Ironton has the lower violent crime rate. Brainerd reports 2834/100k and Ironton reports 942/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Brainerd or Ironton?
- The median home value is $163k in Brainerd and $128k in Ironton, so homes are more affordable in Ironton.