What it's like to live in Brooklyn Center
Brooklyn Center is a small city in Minnesota with home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Brooklyn Center deals with crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, a population that has been shrinking, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- Shrinking population
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 54" per year
How Brooklyn Center compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Brooklyn Center
Based on Brooklyn Center's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,752
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,040 a year
- 48% of Brooklyn Center renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$54,860
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $27,430
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,376/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,376 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $274,300. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $274,300 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 59% above US
524 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2649/100k · Brooklyn Center Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 15% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 10°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 32% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (14 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Brooklyn Center's strongest points are home prices that remain within reach and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,376/mo) equals 23% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
See all the data for Brooklyn Center →·All Minnesota cities →
Other places near Brooklyn Center
All Minnesota guides →Moving to Fridley →
3 mi away · pop. 30,241
Rent $1,326/mo · Income $77,680
Compare with Brooklyn Center →Moving to Crystal →
3 mi away · pop. 22,476
Rent $1,467/mo · Income $92,513
Compare with Brooklyn Center →Moving to Robbinsdale →
3 mi away · pop. 14,234
Rent $1,758/mo · Income $88,252
Compare with Brooklyn Center →Moving to Brooklyn Park →
3 mi away · pop. 83,876
Rent $1,325/mo · Income $89,891
Compare with Brooklyn Center →Not sure Brooklyn Center is the one?
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