City Report · MN

Brooklyn Center

Pop. 32,479·53rd most expensive in Minnesota·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,395/mo
Year-over-Year
+1.8%
Month-over-Month
-1.1%
vs US Median
-$537
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Brooklyn Center · $1,395
More affordable than 82% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
23% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,395/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$56,000/yr
Local median income
$72,535/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Brooklyn Center's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,180
1 BR
$1,340
2 BR
$1,630
3 BR
$2,170
4 BR+
$2,430
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,630/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,395 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Minnesota

Rent in Brooklyn Center changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 53 Minnesota cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($72,535) is $1,813 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,630); a 3-bedroom is $2,170.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Brooklyn Center. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$16,740/yr
At $1,395/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+1.8% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Brooklyn Center, MN is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 24.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
32,479
Median income
$72,535
Median age
33.5
Renters
36.4%
Age distribution
28.7%
23.1%
24.4%
12.4%
Under 1828.7%
18–3423.1%
35–5424.4%
55–6411.4%
65+12.4%
Gender
51.5%
48.5%
Male51.5%
Female48.5%
Race & ethnicity
31.5%
31.5%
16.5%
15.2%
White31.5%
Black31.5%
Hispanic16.5%
Asian15.2%
Other5.3%
Education (25+)
27%
36.4%
24.6%
No HS diploma11.9%
HS diploma27%
Some college36.4%
Bachelor's+24.6%
Housing tenure
63.6%
36.4%
Owner63.6%
Renter36.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Brooklyn Center, MN has changed in 5 years

Income
$64,618 → $72,535
up 12.3%
Population
33,298 → 32,479
down 2.5%
Renter share
40% → 36.4%
-3.6 pts
Bachelor's+
22.8% → 24.6%
+1.8 pts
Median age
31.9 → 33.5
+1.6 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $64,618 to $72,535 across the same window, up 12.3% versus 2021. Census counts show Brooklyn Center, MN losing about 819 residents over the five-year window, down 2.5% on net. The renter share has eased from 40% to 36.4%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

Discussions about Brooklyn Center

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View Brooklyn Center rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Brooklyn Center on your salary?

At $1,395/mo, how Brooklyn Center rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Brooklyn Center rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Brooklyn Center. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Brooklyn Center

About renting in Brooklyn Center, MN

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Brooklyn Center is $1,395/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,180/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,630/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,340/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,170/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($72,535/yr), Brooklyn Center ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Brooklyn Center?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $56,000/year (about $27/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,395/mo in Brooklyn Center. The local median household income is $72,535/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Brooklyn Center?

Rent in Brooklyn Center has risen 1.8% over the past year.

How does Brooklyn Center rent compare to other cities in Minnesota?

Brooklyn Center is one of the more affordable among Minnesota cities for rent, ranking #53 of 68 tracked cities at $1,395/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Brooklyn Center changed +1.8%, against a typical +3.4% across the 53 Minnesota cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Brooklyn Center?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Brooklyn Center ($1,395/mo) include Fridley ($1,389/mo).
Income Affordability
23%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,395/mo, rent takes ~23% of Brooklyn Center's median household income ($72,535/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Brooklyn Center 23%Benchmark 30%
State income tax5.35–9.85%
Run the Brooklyn Center affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Brooklyn Center
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Brooklyn Center, MN

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