1st Advantage MortgageAbout 64% of Dakota County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $70,329. 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 by the numbers
- Income in Dakota County compared with Nebraska
- How Dakota County residents earn a living
- What it costs to live in Dakota County
- Dakota County towns compared
- Regional comparison for Dakota County
- What a median Dakota County budget can carry
- People and households in Dakota County
- What the numbers mean for Dakota County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
- A Dakota County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dakota County by the numbers
Dakota County is home to about 21,354 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 16th most populous of 93 county-level areas in Nebraska. Land area is 264 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 81 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 6 Census places inside Dakota County, South Sioux City leads by population with about 13,907; 6 of the 6 are incorporated.
Income in Dakota County compared with Nebraska
Dakota County households have a median income of $70,329 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 35th of 93 in Nebraska.
| Band | Dakota County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 18.6% | -2.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.9% | +7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.9% | 0.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -4.9 pts |
Some 19% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. 11.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.6%). None of these numbers decides a Dakota County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Dakota County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Dakota County residents, by industry, is manufacturing at 28% of workers, followed by education and health care (20%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 28% locally and 10% for Nebraska. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 75% drive to work alone and 2% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Sector | Dakota County | Compared with Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 28.3% | +17.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.4% | -4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.0% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.3% | 0.0 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | 0.0 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 5.9% | -1.9 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What it costs to live in Dakota County
Renters in Dakota County pay a median of $1,069 a month, in line with Nebraska's $1,072. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. With a median value of $185,700, a typical Dakota County house costs 2.6 times what the median household earns in a year. 64% of Dakota County households own their home and 36% rent.
| Dakota County | Nebraska | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,069/mo | $1,072/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $185,700 | $238,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 22% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 6.3% | 2.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 8% | n/a |
Dakota County towns compared
6 Census places fall mainly inside Dakota County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 18,376 residents, leaving about 14% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $57,292 in Emerson to $76,806 in Dakota City. Median rent ranges from $635 in Dakota City to $1,127 in South Sioux City. No Dakota County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Sioux City | city | 13,907 | $68,223 | $1,127 | 9 mi |
| Dakota City | city | 2,675 | $76,806 | $635 | 7 mi |
| Emerson | village | 885 | $57,292 | $703 | 12 mi |
| Homer | village | 446 | $80,714 | $677 | 6 mi |
| Jackson | village | 273 | $51,250 | $629 | 4 mi |
| Hubbard | village | 190 | $58,750 | n/a | 2 mi |
Regional comparison for Dakota County
Dixon County is closest, 16 miles from center to center; the sixth, Wayne County, is 31 miles off. 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Dakota County; Union County is highest at $89,636 and Wayne County lowest at $66,215. The list crosses into Iowa, South Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota County | - | $70,329 | $1,069/mo | 64% |
| Dixon County, NE | 16 mi | $72,454 | $689/mo | 77% |
| Thurston County, NE | 16 mi | $69,177 | $699/mo | 61% |
| Woodbury County, IA | 26 mi | $73,658 | $981/mo | 68% |
| Plymouth County, IA | 30 mi | $83,251 | $910/mo | 74% |
| Union County, SD | 31 mi | $89,636 | $1,069/mo | 73% |
| Wayne County, NE | 31 mi | $66,215 | $800/mo | 61% |
What a median Dakota County budget can carry
How much room does a median Dakota County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $5,861 gross per month ($70,329 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,069, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,041 a month
- $1,451: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Dakota County
15% of Dakota County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Dakota County | All of Nebraska | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.5 | 37.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.6% | 34.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 21.3% | 7.8% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 7.2% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 11.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.5% | 10.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.8% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 55.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.0% |
| 60+ min | 0.7% |
What the numbers mean for Dakota County borrowers
Based on the Dakota County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Checking a lender's license in Nebraska
Dakota County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Nebraska: Nebraska personal loans.
A Dakota County borrower's checklist
Quick steps for Dakota County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Nebraska.
- Ask a Dakota County credit union about member loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Nebraska guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Dakota County?
$70,329 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $76,475 for Nebraska. It ranks 35th of 93 in the state.
What do renters pay in Dakota County?
$1,069 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Does this page cover South Sioux City?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Dakota County, such as Dakota City, Emerson, Homer.
Does living in Dakota County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Dakota County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Dakota County residents?
The Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance licenses consumer lenders in Nebraska; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.