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Living in
Brooklyn Center.
About
Life in Brooklyn Center
Brooklyn Center works best if you want suburban living with genuine diversity and a shorter commute into Minneapolis—most people are getting downtown in under 25 minutes via I-94 or 694. The median home price hovers around $274,000 with rents averaging $1,376, which is reasonable for the Twin Cities metro, though you're paying for proximity to the city. The job market is solid with unemployment around 4.7%, and the median household income of $72,000 reflects a stable working and middle-class community.
Brooklyn Center at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.3%
Foreign-Born
21.7%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Population Growth
-5.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.7% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Brooklyn Center: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Brooklyn Center, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (17.6%), and 13.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.7%
of residents
65 and Older
12.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.6%
of households
Married Couples
38.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.87
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 8% above MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Brooklyn Center
In Brooklyn Center, rent runs 8% above the MN average, and home values are 17% below the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,377
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1962
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $295,797 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above MN average
Unemployment in Brooklyn Center and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Brooklyn Center is 0.8 percentage points higher than the MN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Brooklyn Center Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute22.1 min avg
How Brooklyn Center residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Brooklyn Center, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 59% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Brooklyn Center runs 59% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
524
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,648.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Brooklyn Center Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hennepin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hennepin County, which includes Brooklyn Center, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 20 | Winter Storm | $14.0M |
| 2022 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $43,700 |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $512,500 |
| 2020 | 16 | Winter Storm | $1.3M |
| 2019 | 16 | Winter Storm | $255,000 |
| 2018 | 16 | Winter Storm | $25,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hennepin County, county-wide
Brooklyn Center is about 3% of Hennepin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hennepin County, which includes Brooklyn Center, is typically good — 211 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
211
per year
Moderate Days
144
per year
Unhealthy Days
6
per year
Hennepin County, county-wide
Brooklyn Center is about 3% of Hennepin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 10°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Brooklyn Center has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and very cold winters (avg low 10°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
58°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
27°/10°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
30.7"
Annual Snowfall
54.3"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
155
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°F | 7°F | 0.61" |
| Feb | 29°F | 11°F | 0.62" |
| Mar | 42°F | 23°F | 1.42" |
| Apr | 57°F | 35°F | 2.88" |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 4.34" |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 4.37" |
| Jul | 83°F | 63°F | 4.19" |
| Aug | 81°F | 61°F | 4.14" |
| Sep | 73°F | 52°F | 3.16" |
| Oct | 58°F | 38°F | 2.61" |
| Nov | 42°F | 26°F | 1.47" |
| Dec | 29°F | 13°F | 0.90" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Brooklyn Center
Uninsured
9.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Brooklyn Center's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
North Memorial Health Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Robbinsdale
Hennepin County Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 mi away · Minneapolis
M Health Fairview University of Mn Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.1 mi away · Minneapolis
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Brooklyn Center
Brooklyn Center's student/teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
18
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Brooklyn Center (within 15 miles)
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
7.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 31,855 students · in-state tuition $18,482 · 83% graduate · median earnings $74,314 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 18,364 students · in-state tuition $14,328 · 32% graduate · median earnings $51,254 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 9,136 students · in-state tuition $13,140 · 33% graduate · median earnings $54,715 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,245 students · in-state tuition $56,460 · 78% graduate · median earnings $82,322 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 5,616 students · in-state tuition $10,382 · 58% graduate · median earnings $66,336 (10 yrs after entry)
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
7.5 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,201 students · in-state tuition $6,750 · 26% graduate · median earnings $53,668 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Brooklyn Center
Brooklyn Center has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
14 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
64 mi awayPublic Libraries in Brooklyn Center
Brookdale Library
6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center
Cities Near Brooklyn Center
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Brooklyn Center?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Brooklyn Center FAQ
Is Brooklyn Center, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Brooklyn Center's median rent is $1,376/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $72,535/year. Median home value is $274,300.
Is Brooklyn Center, Minnesota safe?⌄
Brooklyn Center's violent crime rate was 524 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2649 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota?⌄
Brooklyn Center has an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Brooklyn Center is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,376/month and median household income is $72,535/year. The median home value is $274,300. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Brooklyn Center is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from