1st Advantage MortgageDakota County households have a median income of $106,318 and median rent of $1,548 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Dakota County, MN: the basics
- How much Dakota County households make
- Rent, home values and ownership in Dakota County
- The Dakota County job picture
- Towns and communities in Dakota County
- Regional comparison for Dakota County
- Who lives in Dakota County, in numbers
- Before borrowing in Dakota County
- Debt-to-income at Dakota County's medians
- Minnesota rules that apply in Dakota County
- Steps before you apply in Dakota County
- More guides for Dakota County
- Frequently asked questions
Dakota County, MN: the basics
Roughly 445,771 residents live in Dakota County, Minnesota, 3rd by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 563 square miles, that is close to 792 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 20 places in the county (20 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Lakeville, with about 74,354 residents, or 17% of the county.
How much Dakota County households make
At $106,318, the typical Dakota County household income is 62% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Dakota County | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.7% | -4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 34.3% | -3.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.2% | +4.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 17.8% | +4.0 pts |
The spread is wide: 53% of Dakota County households make $100,000 or more, and 13% make less than $35,000. Census counts 5.8% of Dakota County residents in poverty, against 9.3% across Minnesota. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.414 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Dakota County
A typical Dakota County rental runs $1,548 a month including utilities, which is 21% above Minnesota. By the Census definition, 50% of Dakota County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $381,000, a typical Dakota County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 75%. Half the housing stock was built before 1988.
| Home costs | Dakota County | Minnesota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,548/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $381,000 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 23% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Dakota County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
The Dakota County job picture
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Dakota County residents work in education and health care and 13% in professional and administrative services. Finance, insurance and real estate stands out: 10% of workers here, versus 7% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 68% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Dakota County | Compared with Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | -3.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.6% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.1% | -2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | +0.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 9.7% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.2% | +0.1 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Towns and communities in Dakota County
20 Census places fall mainly inside Dakota County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 428,884 residents, leaving about 4% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $236,250 at the median in Sunfish Lake, $68,464 in West St. Paul. Rent is cheapest in Hampton ($1,083) and steepest in Lilydale ($2,362). City guides exist for the linked Dakota County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeville | city | 74,354 | $139,041 | $1,806 | 9 mi |
| Eagan | city | 68,000 | $108,690 | $1,679 | 11 mi |
| Burnsville | city | 64,463 | $87,024 | $1,513 | 12 mi |
| Apple Valley | city | 55,679 | $97,673 | $1,738 | 8 mi |
| Inver Grove Heights | city | 35,906 | $101,316 | $1,465 | 11 mi |
| Rosemount | city | 27,562 | $129,625 | $1,640 | 5 mi |
| Farmington | city | 23,902 | $123,673 | $1,241 | 5 mi |
| Hastings | city | 22,117 | $93,998 | $1,183 | 11 mi |
| West St. Paul | city | 21,382 | $68,464 | $1,282 | 16 mi |
| South St. Paul | city | 20,611 | $87,994 | $1,199 | 15 mi |
| Mendota Heights | city | 11,612 | $132,768 | $1,631 | 15 mi |
| Lilydale | city | 772 | $89,583 | $2,362 | 17 mi |
| Hampton | city | 590 | $109,545 | $1,083 | 5 mi |
| Sunfish Lake | city | 533 | $236,250 | n/a | 14 mi |
Regional comparison for Dakota County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 31 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Dakota County; Scott County is highest at $119,314 and Ramsey County lowest at $81,568.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota County | - | $106,318 | $1,548/mo | 75% |
| Scott County, MN | 23 mi | $119,314 | $1,568/mo | 84% |
| Ramsey County, MN | 24 mi | $81,568 | $1,329/mo | 61% |
| Rice County, MN | 25 mi | $83,181 | $1,083/mo | 76% |
| Goodhue County, MN | 25 mi | $84,171 | $966/mo | 79% |
| Washington County, MN | 27 mi | $115,345 | $1,710/mo | 81% |
| Hennepin County, MN | 31 mi | $97,653 | $1,487/mo | 63% |
Who lives in Dakota County, in numbers
College graduates make up 45% of the adult population. 4.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Dakota County | Minnesota statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 45.0% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.8% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.2% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.3% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 5.8% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 41.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 3.4% |
Before borrowing in Dakota County
What the Dakota County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Consolidation math. With 53% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Tight rental budgets. With 50% of Dakota County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Dakota County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Debt-to-income at Dakota County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Dakota County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $8,860 a month: gross income for a household at the Dakota County median
- Rent at the median, $1,548, takes 17% of that
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,996 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Minnesota rules that apply in Dakota County
Consumer lenders serving Dakota County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Minnesota that is the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Minnesota: Minnesota personal loans.
Steps before you apply in Dakota County
Steps that save money for Dakota County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Dakota County
City guides inside Dakota County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Dakota County a high-income county?
Its $106,318 median ranks 5th of 87 Minnesota counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Dakota County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,548 against $1,280 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Dakota County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Lakeville, Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Inver Grove Heights and 15 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Dakota County or elsewhere in Minnesota, the same rules apply.
Where can someone in Dakota County check a lender's license?
With the Minnesota Department of Commerce. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.