Brainerd, MN health
Brainerd differs from Minnesota on 17 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more older adults who have lost all their teeth (15.2% vs 8.9%) and more smokers (17.7% vs 13.1%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for BrainerdBrainerd’s Health Grade: B−
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Brainerd is healthier than 47% of U.S. towns, and than 78% of towns with similar incomes.
Better than its income would suggest. Brainerd is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is B−.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Minnesota ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Brainerd with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Brainerd uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
How Brainerd compares with Minnesota
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
Habits
Care & screenings
Mind & connection
Everyday needs
Disability
Out of every 100 Brainerd adults…
Bars show Brainerd; the black tick is Minnesota. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
MN 22.3%
MN 29.2%
MN 17.8%
MN 13.1%
Keeping up with care
Share of Brainerd adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Minnesota.
How Brainerd adults are doing
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.
Living with a disability
of Brainerd adults live with a disability (Minnesota 27.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Black tick: Minnesota. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Brainerd and the towns around it
Pick a measure to shade the map. Darker is worse for health. Pins are the nearest hospitals and community health centers.
Obesity
Care nearby
Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes). Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Distances are straight-line from the center of Brainerd. Nearby towns are shaded from CDC's estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC's own figure for cities and villages.
All 40 measures for Brainerd
| Measure | Brainerd | Margin | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 32.7% | 29.4–36.1% | 31% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 30.5% | 27.3–33.8% | 33.4% | about the same |
| Obesity | 38.9% | 33.5–44.7% | 33.5% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 24.6% | 22.1–27.3% | 22.3% | about the same |
| Depression | 25.4% | 22.3–28.8% | 24.4% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 15.2% | 12.6–18.1% | 8.9% | worse |
| Asthma | 11% | 9.8–12.3% | 9.9% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 8.5% | 7.8–9.3% | 8.5% | about the same |
| Diabetes | 10.7% | 9.4–12.2% | 10.1% | about the same |
| COPD | 7% | 6.2–7.9% | 5.4% | worse |
| Heart disease | 6.9% | 6.3–7.7% | 5.9% | worse |
| Stroke | 3.6% | 3.3–4% | 3.1% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.7% | 15.5–20.2% | 13.1% | worse |
| Binge drink | 19.2% | 16.3–22.3% | 17.8% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 26.8% | 23.1–31% | 22.3% | worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.4% | 27.5–37.4% | 29.2% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 73% | 69.5–76.4% | 74.8% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 58.4% | 54.9–61.9% | 67.5% | worse |
| Cholesterol check | 81.3% | 79.2–83.2% | 85.3% | worse |
| Colon screening | 64.3% | 59.9–68.5% | 68.7% | worse |
| Mammogram | 77.4% | 70.8–83.1% | 78.5% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 75% | 72.4–77.4% | 76.1% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 7.7–10.8% | 7.5% | worse |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 29.9% | 25.6–34.3% | 31.2% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 20.5% | 17.4–23.6% | 21.5% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.5% | 15.7–19.5% | 15.1% | worse |
| Fair or poor health | 18.6% | 16.4–21.1% | 16% | worse |
| Frequent physical distress | 13% | 11.6–14.6% | 11.3% | worse |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 14.7% | 12.4–17% | 11.4% | worse |
| Housing insecurity | 11.1% | 9.5–12.8% | 9.3% | worse |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.5% | 6.5–8.5% | 5.7% | worse |
| No reliable transportation | 9% | 7.9–10.2% | 7.1% | worse |
| Receive SNAP | 12.1% | 10.3–14% | 7.9% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 33% | 29.3–36.9% | 27.4% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 13.8% | 12.2–15.6% | 11.4% | |
| Thinking or memory | 15.9% | 14.1–17.8% | 12.8% | |
| Hearing | 8.1% | 7.3–9% | 6.8% | |
| Vision | 5.1% | 4.7–5.7% | 4% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 3.9% | 3.6–4.3% | 3.1% | |
| Errands alone | 9.3% | 8.3–10.4% | 7% | |
How CDC estimates town health
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Minnesota figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.