Are you thinking about living in the Brainerd Lakes area and wonder what the difference is between living in Brainerd and Baxter? In this episode of Brainerd Redefined, we’re going to compare life in Brainerd versus Baxter, Minnesota. We’ll look at everything from lifestyle to home prices so you can choose which area would suit you best.
Lifestyles And Housing Costs
If you’re thinking of living in Brainerd or Baxter, the first place we’ll compare is the lifestyle of each area. Baxter tends to be known more for its suburban lifestyle. Brainerd, on the other hand, is outside the city limits and is more known for its cabin life. Baxter has more restaurants, while Brainerd is better known for its fishing and the outdoors.
Another difference is real estate. Most people will want to know what you get for your money and which area has the better bang for their buck. Overall, Brainerd typically is less expensive than Baxter. The average three-bedroom, single-family home in Brainerd is roughly $200,000. In Baxter, it’s approximately $235,000. A two-bedroom in Brainerd is roughly $145,000, while a two-bedroom in Baxter is approximately $200,000.
If you’re looking to rent, a three-bedroom home in Brainerd is going to cost approximately $1,200 a month. To rent the same size home in Baxter, it’s going to be upwards of $1,600. A two-bedroom in Baxter would run roughly $1,200 a month, while in Brainerd it would be $950 a month. A good rule of thumb is it’s typically less expensive to live in Brainerd than it is in Baxter.
Location And Commute Times
Now that you know about lifestyle differences and housing costs, let’s talk about the location of these two cities. If you need to be near your work, you’re going to want to know the commute and travel time from your home.
Brainerd and Baxter are what we call sister cities, so the commuting distance isn’t going to be all that different. You’ll find that commute times are pretty equal if you have to travel for work. The Brainerd Airport is located on the east side of Brainerd, so it would be a little bit more of a commute coming from Baxter—though still less than 15 minutes.
The major highway corridor is 371, which splits Brainerd and Baxter. If you’re heading north, from Minneapolis market, you’re going to hop on 371. Once you get to the Brainerd Lakes area, you’re going to turn left to go into Baxter or right to go into Brainerd.
Experience Minnesota Living
I hope this gave you some insight into the differences between living in Brainerd versus Baxter. As you can see, it’s six of one or half a dozen of the other between these two cities. They both are incredible places to call home.
If you have any specific questions about either city, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask. Moving into a new area can be tricky, but we help people do that exact thing all the time. I’d be happy to help you as well! Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of Brainerd Redefined, my show all about the Brainerd Lakes area. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!
