Photo: Elkman · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Minnesota, Brainerd is healthier than 15% of graded towns
Brainerd trails Minnesota on 17 of 32 measures CDC estimates, and leads on none.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Brainerd. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Brainerd
Dental care lags in Brainerd
58.4% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.5% across Minnesota. Among those 65 and older, 15.2% have lost all their teeth (Minnesota 8.9%). Brainerd’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Every town around Brainerd scores healthier
All four graded neighbors are ahead of Brainerd’s B−, from Long Lake Township (B) to Baxter (B+). Around town ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Brainerd
1 in 7 adults worry about having enough food (14.7%), vs 11.4% across Minnesota. Utility shut-off threats (7.5% vs 5.7%) and no reliable transportation (9% vs 7.1%) are higher too. 12.1% of adults receive SNAP, vs 7.9% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
Brainerd is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Brainerd is healthier than 47%. Against the 7,756 towns with similar household incomes ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 78%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Minnesota figure falls outside Brainerd’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
What’s behind Brainerd’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brainerd is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, #230 of 271 in Minnesota. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 71% of U.S. towns); smoking pulls it down (better than 23%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Brainerd’s median household income is $56,111; among the 7,756 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($42K–$70K), it’s healthier than 78%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Keeping up with care
Share of Brainerd adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
Brainerd and the towns around it
Brainerd’s Health Grade ranks 5th of 5 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brainerd | B− | 38.9% | 10.7% | 17.7% | CDC place |
| Oak Lawn Township · Crow Wing Township · Long Lake Township | B | 38.1% | 11% | 16.2% | ZIP 56401 |
| Baxter | B+ | 36.6% | 10.8% | 13.8% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
12.1% of Brainerd adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 7.9% across Minnesota.
Out of every 100 Brainerd adults…
Brainerd runs above MN on 4 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Brainerd
1 hospital in Brainerd, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Brainerd; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Everyday habits, side by side with Minnesota
Share of adults, with the Minnesota figure marked.
7.4 miles of trails across 10 parks and preserves
How Brainerd adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Brainerd runs above Minnesota.
3 in 10 Brainerd adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Brainerd adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Brainerd
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Brainerd is better than Minnesota on 0 and worse on 17; on the rest, the Minnesota figure falls inside Brainerd’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Brainerd | MN | U.S. | vs MN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 18.6%16.4–21.1 | 16% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 13%11.6–14.6 | 11.3% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17.5%15.7–19.5 | 15.1% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 38.9%33.5–44.7 | 33.5% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7%9.4–12.2 | 10.1% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 32.7%29.4–36.1 | 31% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.5%27.3–33.8 | 33.4% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 24.6%22.1–27.3 | 22.3% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 11%9.8–12.3 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 8.5%7.8–9.3 | 8.5% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.9%6.3–7.7 | 5.9% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7%6.2–7.9 | 5.4% | 6.3% | Worse |
| Stroke | 3.6%3.3–4 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 15.2%12.6–18.1 | 8.9% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7%15.5–20.2 | 13.1% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 26.8%23.1–31 | 22.3% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 19.2%16.3–22.3 | 17.8% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.4%27.5–37.4 | 29.2% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 9.1%7.7–10.8 | 7.5% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 73%69.5–76.4 | 74.8% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.4%54.9–61.9 | 67.5% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 81.3%79.2–83.2 | 85.3% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 75%72.4–77.4 | 76.1% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 64.3%59.9–68.5 | 68.7% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.4%70.8–83.1 | 78.5% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.4%22.3–28.8 | 24.4% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 29.9%25.6–34.3 | 31.2% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 20.5%17.4–23.6 | 21.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 14.7%12.4–17 | 11.4% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 11.1%9.5–12.8 | 9.3% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 7.5%6.5–8.5 | 5.7% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 9%7.9–10.2 | 7.1% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 12.1%10.3–14 | 7.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33%29.3–36.9 | 27.4% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 13.8%12.2–15.6 | 11.4% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15.9%14.1–17.8 | 12.8% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 8.1%7.3–9 | 6.8% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 5.1%4.7–5.7 | 4% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.3%8.3–10.4 | 7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.9%3.6–4.3 | 3.1% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Minnesota figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Brainerd
Is Brainerd a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Brainerd is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns: B− for health, #230 of 271 in Minnesota. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 78%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Brainerd?
CDC estimates 38.9% of adults have obesity, likely between 33.5% and 44.7%, against 33.5% across Minnesota and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Brainerd?
Essentia Health St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, 0.5 miles in a straight line from Brainerd’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 3 of 5 stars.
How many people in Brainerd have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 9.1% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7.7–10.8%), against 7.5% across Minnesota.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Brainerd more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from C− to B+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Brainerd.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Minnesota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.