Dakota County, Minnesota
Among the top 4% of US counties for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade F, better than 5% of US counties
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 37% of US counties
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 28% of US counties
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 96% of US counties
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 68% of US counties
- top 3% for broadband access
- top 3% for airport distance
- bottom 6% for monthly rent
Dakota County is a county in Minnesota with about 439,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and F for affordability. Standout strengths include broadband access, airport distance, and walkability. It rates lower on sunny days and monthly rent.
Official websitedakotacounty.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cool
comf.
warm
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cool
v.cold
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63%40%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.6 in1.0 in
humid 80%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$101k97th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$54kbetter than 12% of US counties
Home Value$341k91st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 6% of US counties
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 8% of US counties
Property Tax Rate1.01%better than 39% of US counties
Income Tax9.88%better than 8% of US counties
Sales Tax8.04%better than 38% of US counties
Estimated total tax burden15.92%better than 6% of US counties
Unemployment3.7%better than 71% of US counties
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)16°F7th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F30th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation33.5 in29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall45.5 inbetter than 15% of US counties
Sunny Days182 daysbetter than 6% of US counties
Summer Humidity61°Fbetter than 73% of US counties
Comfortable Days98 daysbetter than 90% of US counties
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk89.5better than 10% of US counties
Air Quality49 AQIbetter than 19% of US counties
School Quality64.3better than 67% of US counties
Violent Crime559/100kbetter than 66% of US counties
Property Crime1681/100kbetter than 21% of US counties
Community
Population439,17995th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age38.424th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3864th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9940th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningD+1410th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)75.4%41st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)7.0%71st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)7.7%66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)5.1%95th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.8%76th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time24 minbetter than 49% of US counties
Walkability9.8/20better than 92% of US counties
Airport Distance16 mibetter than 97% of US counties
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access93.2%better than 97% of US counties
Amenities Nearby0.23better than 26% of US counties
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 59% of US counties
Frequently asked questions
- Is Dakota County an affordable place to live?
- Dakota County is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $54k, better than 12% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in Dakota County?
- The median home value in Dakota County is $341k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in Dakota County?
- Median household income in Dakota County is $101k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in Dakota County?
- Median gross rent in Dakota County is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is Dakota County safe?
- Dakota County is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 559/100k (better than 66%). Property crime is 1681/100k.
- What is the weather like in Dakota County?
- Dakota County averages 74°F in July and 16°F in January, with 33.5 in of annual precipitation and about 182 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Dakota County?
- Public-school quality in Dakota County is above average, scoring better than 67% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Dakota County?
- The average one-way commute in Dakota County is 24 min.
Other counties in Minnesota
Explore Minnesota
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)