Dakota County, MN Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Dakota County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 439,345 | 5,674,785 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 749.2 | 65.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.02% | 0.66% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 36.7 | 36.9 | 37.1 |
| Households | 171,492 | 2,271,841 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Dakota County grew by 13.4% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 441,836 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Dakota County has a the economy index of A, which means it is very prosperous.
| Metric | Dakota County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $105,239 | $88,383 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.51% | 4.81% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Dakota County is about 19% higher than in Minnesota.
Housing
| Metric | Dakota County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $337,089 | $243,729 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,496 | $1,234 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.4% | 72.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Dakota County is about 18.8 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,496 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Dakota County spend about 45 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 186 hours, about 7.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Dakota County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 22.3 | 20.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 44.7 | 41.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 186 | 172 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,772 | $5,323 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 18.9% | 15.9% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 12,623 | 7,066 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,063 | 854 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Minnesota:
Cook County (10.7 min), Pennington County (10.9 min), Brown County (10.9 min).
Slowest:
Chisago County (30.7 min), Wright County (30.3 min), Sherburne County (30.2 min).
The average commute time in Dakota County is 22 minutes, longer than the 21 minutes in Minnesota.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Dakota County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Dakota County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.3% | 35.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.55 | 2.44 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Minnesota:
Hennepin County (0.4), Olmsted County (0.4), Carver County (0.4).
Lowest:
Nobles County (0.2), Mahnomen County (0.2), Watonwan County (0.2).
Health
Dakota County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Dakota County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.7 | 80.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 9.2% | 13.0% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 14.2% | 18.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Minnesota:
Carver County (0.8), Washington County (0.8), Stevens County (0.8).
Lowest:
Mahnomen County (0.8), Clearwater County (0.8), Beltrami County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Dakota County, Minnesota.
What is the population of Dakota County, Minnesota?
The population of Dakota County, Minnesota is 439,345, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Dakota County, Minnesota?
The population density of Dakota County, Minnesota is 749.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Dakota County, Minnesota?
The median household income in Dakota County, Minnesota is $105,239, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Dakota County, Minnesota?
The median home price in Dakota County, Minnesota is $337,089, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Dakota County, Minnesota?
The unemployment rate in Dakota County, Minnesota is 3.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.