1st Advantage MortgageDodge County households have a median income of $95,739 and median rent of $1,020 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Dodge County by the numbers
- The Dodge County job picture
- Income in Dodge County compared with Minnesota
- Renting and owning in Dodge County
- Dodge County towns compared
- Dodge County and the counties next door
- Room for a loan payment in Dodge County
- Local borrowing considerations for Dodge County
- People and households in Dodge County
- Checklist for Dodge County applicants
- Lender oversight for Dodge County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dodge County by the numbers
Roughly 21,045 residents live in Dodge County, Minnesota, 48th by population among the state's 87 counties and county equivalents. It covers 439 square miles of land, or about 48 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Rochester, MN metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (6 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Kasson, with about 7,050 residents, or 33% of the county.
The Dodge County job picture
Education and health care employs 36% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 14%. Education and health care stands out: 36% of workers here, versus 26% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.3% in Dodge County. Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Dodge County share | +/- vs Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 35.7% | +9.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.6% | -3.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.4% | -5.2 pts |
| Public administration | 4.8% | +1.1 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Dodge County compared with Minnesota
At $95,739, the typical Dodge County household income is 46% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 10th of 87.
| Income band | Share in Dodge County | Difference from Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.3% | -5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | +2.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 36.5% | +5.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.5% | -3.3 pts |
Some 12% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 47% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 7.0% of Dodge County residents in poverty, against 9.3% across Minnesota. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.383 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $95,739 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Dodge County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,020 in Dodge County versus $1,280 statewide. By the Census definition, 42% of Dodge County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $287,700, or 3.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 87%. Half the housing stock was built before 1979.
| Home costs | Dodge County | Minnesota | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,020/mo | $1,280/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $287,700 | $329,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 87% | 72% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 23% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 5% | 9% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Dodge County towns compared
6 Census places fall mainly inside Dodge County; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 13,717 residents, leaving about 35% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $56,625 in Claremont to $110,000 in Mantorville. Median rent ranges from $799 in West Concord to $1,361 in Mantorville. None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasson | city | 7,050 | $93,333 | $1,113 | 6 mi |
| Dodge Center | city | 2,880 | $93,884 | $1,012 | 1 mi |
| Hayfield | city | 1,395 | $69,313 | $935 | 9 mi |
| Mantorville | city | 1,047 | $110,000 | $1,361 | 7 mi |
| West Concord | city | 843 | $70,536 | $799 | 9 mi |
| Claremont | city | 502 | $56,625 | $1,038 | 7 mi |
Dodge County and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (17 to 34 miles). None of the six report a higher median household income than Dodge County; Olmsted County is highest at $95,406 and Freeborn County lowest at $71,023.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge County | - | $95,739 | $1,020/mo | 87% |
| Steele County, MN | 17 mi | $84,196 | $1,061/mo | 79% |
| Olmsted County, MN | 23 mi | $95,406 | $1,370/mo | 71% |
| Mower County, MN | 25 mi | $73,074 | $927/mo | 78% |
| Goodhue County, MN | 28 mi | $84,171 | $966/mo | 79% |
| Rice County, MN | 31 mi | $83,181 | $1,083/mo | 76% |
| Freeborn County, MN | 34 mi | $71,023 | $849/mo | 80% |
Room for a loan payment in Dodge County
How much room does a median Dodge County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Dodge County: $7,978
- Rent at the median, $1,020, takes 13% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $2,171 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Dodge County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Dodge County borrowers.
- Higher earners. 47% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Dodge County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Consolidating cards in Dodge County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
People and households in Dodge County
College graduates make up 30% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Dodge County | Minnesota | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.7 | 38.8 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.2% | 39.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.6% | 6.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.5% | 4.7% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.8% | 6.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 17.6% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 9.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 21.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.5% |
Checklist for Dodge County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Dodge County
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is the place to verify any lender's Minnesota license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Minnesota: Minnesota personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Minnesota guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Dodge County household make?
About $95,739 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 7% above the Minnesota median.
How much is rent in Dodge County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,020 a month; 42% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Dodge County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 87% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Does this page cover Kasson?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Dodge County, such as Dodge Center, Hayfield, Mantorville.
Does living in Dodge 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 Dodge County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.