Compare cities · September 2026
Brooklyn Center vs. Columbia Heights
Homes in Brooklyn Center sold for a median $305,000 over the 12 months through September 2026, 1% more than in Columbia Heights ($302,000). Homes sold faster in Brooklyn Center: 38 days on market on average, against 39 in Columbia Heights. Columbia Heights is closer to downtown Minneapolis: about 16 minutes by car, against 17. The two are about 4 miles apart, roughly a 11-minute drive.
Housing market, 12 months through September 2026
| Measure | Brooklyn Center | Columbia Heights |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $305,000 | $302,000 |
| Change from a year earlier | +1.7% | +0.7% |
| Homes sold | 281 | 251 |
| Days on market | 38 | 39 |
| Share of original list price | 99.2% | 99.5% |
| Price per square foot | $178 | $194 |
| New listings | 399 | 370 |
| Homes for sale (September 2026) | 74 | 72 |
| Months of supply (September 2026) | 3.2 | 3.3 |
Source: Minneapolis Area REALTORS® Local Market Update (NorthstarMLS data).
The homes
| Measure | Brooklyn Center | Columbia Heights |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner estimate) | $274,300 | $277,600 |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1963 |
| Single-family homesShare of all housing units, detached houses | 67% | 70% |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64% | 66% |
| Median rent | $1,376 | $1,295 |
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024.
The place
| Measure | Brooklyn Center | Columbia Heights |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2024) | 31,755 | 22,358 |
| Land area | 8 sq mi | 3.4 sq mi |
| Drive to Downtown Minneapolis | 17 min | 16 min |
| Drive to Downtown Saint Paul | 27 min | 23 min |
| Drive to MSP Airport | 33 min | 30 min |
| Drive to Mall of America | 30 min | 32 min |
| Drive to University of Minnesota | 21 min | 16 min |
| Average commute to work | 22.1 min | 23.6 min |
| Lakes of 10+ acresMinnesota DNR lake outlines touching the city | 3 | 2 |
Source: US Census Bureau 2024 estimates and TIGER/Line; drive times from OpenStreetMap routing (light traffic).
Brooklyn Center
School districts: Brooklyn Center School District, Osseo Public School District, Robbinsdale Public School District, Anoka-Hennepin Public School District
Largest lakes: Twin Lakes (217 acres), Palmer Lake (25 acres), Ryan Lake (19 acres)
Columbia Heights
School districts: Columbia Heights Public School District
Largest lakes: Silver Lake (71 acres), Sandy Lake (16 acres)
How we compare places: by their homes, housing market and location only, from public sources, never by who lives there. Medians describe the middle home; both places have homes well above and below them.
Quick answers
Brooklyn Center or Columbia Heights?
Is Brooklyn Center or Columbia Heights more expensive?
Brooklyn Center. The median sale price was $305,000 there and $302,000 in Columbia Heights over the 12 months through September 2026, according to the Minneapolis Area REALTORS® Local Market Update. The median is the middle sale, so both have homes well above and below it.
Where do homes sell faster, Brooklyn Center or Columbia Heights?
Brooklyn Center: 38 days on market on average against 39, over the 12 months through September 2026.
Which is closer to downtown Minneapolis?
Columbia Heights, about 16 minutes by car in light traffic (17 from Brooklyn Center). To downtown Saint Paul: 27 minutes from Brooklyn Center, 23 from Columbia Heights.
How far apart are Brooklyn Center and Columbia Heights?
About 4 miles in a straight line between their centers, or roughly 11 minutes by car.
Which has more lakes, Brooklyn Center or Columbia Heights?
Brooklyn Center has more: 3 lakes of 10+ acres touch Brooklyn Center (largest: Twin Lakes) and 2 touch Columbia Heights (largest: Silver Lake), by Minnesota DNR lake outlines.
Which school districts serve Brooklyn Center and Columbia Heights?
Brooklyn Center: Brooklyn Center School District, Osseo Public School District, Robbinsdale Public School District and Anoka-Hennepin Public School District. Columbia Heights: Columbia Heights Public School District. School district lines don't follow city lines, so check the district for a specific address before you buy.
Should I buy in Brooklyn Center or Columbia Heights?
It depends on your budget, the kind of home you want and where you need to get to each day. This page compares the homes, prices and locations; a Huerkamp Home Group agent can show you homes in both and walk you through what's selling now.
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Deciding between them?
See homes in Brooklyn Center and Columbia Heights.
A Huerkamp Home Group agent can show you homes in both, tell you what's selling and for how much right now, and help you decide. There's no cost to buyers.