Is New Brighton Safe, Pros and cons of living in New Brighton

New Brighton, Minnesota, offers a suburban lifestyle with convenient access to the Twin Cities. It is a community that blends residential tranquility with proximity to urban amenities, making it an attractive option for various residents. The city is situated in Ramsey County, providing a stable environment for families and individuals.

This community is known for its parks and recreational opportunities, anchored by Pike Lake and Long Lake, which offer residents spaces for outdoor activities. The Mounds View Public School District serves the city, adding to its appeal for families. Historically, the area has roots dating back to the Mdewakanton Dakota communities before European settlers arrived in 1858.

Is it Safe to Live in New Brighton?

Crime Rates

New Brighton’s overall crime rate is lower than the national average by 38.1% (as reported by AreaVibes). Specifically, the violent crime rate is 74.7% lower than the national average, with 91 violent crimes per 100,000 residents (as reported by AreaVibes). Property crimes are also lower than the national average by 30.6%, amounting to 1222 per 100,000 people (as reported by AreaVibes).

However, another source indicates that the crime rate in New Brighton is 33.44 per 1,000 residents in a typical year, and the city ranks in the 27th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than only 27% of U.S. cities (as reported by PlainCrime). The violent crime rate is noted as 2.380 per 1,000 residents, with the chance of being a victim of violent crime being 1 in 1119 (as reported by CrimeGrade.org). The cost of crime per resident is approximately $435 annually (as reported by PlainCrime).

Neighborhood Safety

Residents generally consider the northeast part of New Brighton to be the safest area (as reported by PlainCrime). Conversely, the southeast neighborhoods present a higher risk, with a chance of being a victim of crime ranging from 1 in 22 to 1 in 36, depending on the specific neighborhood (as reported by PlainCrime). The northwest parts of the city tend to see more crime incidents annually, while the northeast areas have the fewest (as reported by PlainCrime).

New Brighton’s violent crime rate is considered to be about average for all communities in America, with a rate of 1 per 1,000 inhabitants (as reported by NeighborhoodScout). The property crime rate is 12 per 1,000 population, indicating an above-average chance of becoming a victim of property crime compared to other U.S. communities (as reported by NeighborhoodScout).

Cost of Living

Housing Costs

The median home value in New Brighton was $343,652 (as reported by Livability.com). More recently, in March 2026, the median home price was $407,000, showing a 3.6% increase from the previous year (as reported by Redfin). Another report from March 2026 states the median home value is $380,080, up 1.2% over the past year (as reported by Zillow).

The average cost of rent in New Brighton is approximately $1,239 per month (as reported by Livability.com). This is 25% lower than the national average rent of $1,642 per month (as reported by Apartments.com). For a studio apartment, expect to pay around $1,071 per month, a one-bedroom around $1,239, and a two-bedroom around $1,416 (as reported by Apartments.com).

General Expenses

The cost of living in New Brighton is 2% less expensive than the national average (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute). It is also 1% more expensive than the average city in Minnesota (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute). The median household income in New Brighton is $86,411 (as reported by Livability.com), with another source reporting it as $88,521 (as reported by World Population Review).

Food costs in New Brighton are less affordable than the national average (as reported by Livingcost.org). However, the median after-tax salary is $5,170, which is enough to cover living expenses for 2.3 months (as reported by Livingcost.org). The total projected cost of crime in New Brighton for 2025 is estimated at $10,687,841, or about $435 per resident (as reported by PlainCrime).

Job Market and Economy

Employment and Salaries

The average salary in New Brighton, Minnesota, is approximately $61,111 per year (as reported by ReadySetHire). This figure varies, with salaries typically ranging from $31,000 to $158,000 annually (as reported by ReadySetHire). The most common salaries fall between $54,118 and $88,795 each year (as reported by ReadySetHire).

The unemployment rate in New Brighton was 3.6% (as reported by DataByArea). Another source indicates an average annual unemployment rate of 4.5% in 2008, rising to 7.0% in 2010, and then decreasing to 5.5% in 2012 (as reported by Community Profile). The median wage in New Brighton is reported as $48,400 (as reported by DataByArea).

Major Employers and Industries

Key employment sectors for New Brighton residents include Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (as reported by DataByArea). The most common job groups are Office & Administrative Support Occupations, Sales & Related Occupations, and Management Occupations (as reported by DataByArea).

Some of the top companies offering competitive salaries in New Brighton include APi Group, Inc. with an average salary of $116,232, and Johnson Screens with $62,350 (as reported by ReadySetHire). Other notable employers are Monarch Healthcare Management and Mission Foods, offering average salaries around $60,000 (as reported by ReadySetHire).

Climate and Weather

Temperatures and Seasons

New Brighton experiences warm, wet summers and freezing, snowy, and windy winters, with partly cloudy conditions year-round (as reported by AccuWeather). The temperature typically ranges from 9°F to 83°F, rarely falling below -11°F or exceeding 91°F (as reported by AccuWeather).

The warm season lasts from late May to mid-September, with daily high temperatures averaging above 71°F. July is the hottest month, with an average high of 82°F and a low of 64°F (as reported by AccuWeather). The cold season spans from late November to early March, with daily high temperatures typically below 36°F. January is the coldest month, with an average low of 10°F and a high of 24°F (as reported by AccuWeather).

Precipitation and Rainfall

New Brighton sees significant seasonal variation in rainfall. The rainy period lasts for about 9.1 months, from early March to early December, with June being the wettest month, averaging 4.3 inches of rain (as reported by AccuWeather). The drier period spans approximately 2.9 months, from early December to early March, with January receiving the least rain at about 0.1 inches (as reported by AccuWeather).

The chance of wet days is highest from April to October, with June having the most wet days at an average of 11.9 days (as reported by AccuWeather). Snowfall is common in the winter, with an average annual snowfall of 52 inches (as reported by Livability.com). The average sliding 31-day snowfall during winter is about 3.9 inches (as reported by AccuWeather).

Education and Schools

School District Performance

New Brighton is served by the Mounds View Public School District, which is ranked 107th out of 446 districts in Minnesota and holds a 4-star rating, indicating strong overall performance (as reported by Niche). The St. Anthony-New Brighton Independent School District is also associated with the area, holding a B+ overall Niche grade (as reported by Niche).

Within the Mounds View Public School District, Irondale Senior High has a 4-year graduation rate of 84.2% (as reported by SchoolDigger.com). Highview Middle School demonstrates strong academic performance, with math and reading proficiency rates above state and district averages (as reported by SchoolDigger.com).

School Diversity and Ratings

Bel Air Elementary School is noted for its high test scores, with over 60% of students proficient in math and over 55% in reading (as reported by SchoolDigger.com). However, school performance and student demographics vary, with Sunnyside Elementary facing challenges while Bel Air excels (as reported by SchoolDigger.com).

The St. Anthony-New Brighton Independent School District is ranked 76th out of 362 school districts in Minnesota (as reported by Niche). It is also recognized as one of the most diverse school districts in the state, ranking 102nd out of 370 (as reported by Niche).

Demographics

Population and Age Distribution

New Brighton had a population of 23,454 at the 2020 census (as reported by Wikipedia). As of 2026, the population is estimated at 21,827, with the city currently declining at a rate of -1.24% annually (as reported by World Population Review). The median age in New Brighton is 37 years (as reported by World Population Review).

Approximately 20.8% of residents are children under 15, and 9.8% are between 15 and 24 years old. Adults aged 25 to 44 constitute 31.6% of the population, with another 20% in the 45 to 64 age bracket. Those aged 65 and older make up around 17.8% of the population (as reported by Point2Homes).

Race and Ethnicity

The racial makeup of New Brighton includes 66.64% White, 13.93% Black or African American, and 6.34% Asian (as reported by World Population Review). A significant portion, 8.25%, identifies with two or more races, while smaller percentages are of other races or Native American (as reported by World Population Review).

Hispanic or Latino individuals represent 9.01% of the population (as reported by World Population Review). In terms of citizenship, 94% of New Brighton residents are U.S. citizens, which is higher than the national average (as reported by DataByArea).