Dakota County, Minnesota Income Statistics
Dakota County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A
Dakota County Above averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in Minnesota
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Dakota County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $106,144 | $89,852 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $73,933 | $67,028 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.1% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 19.2% | 15.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 17.8% | 13.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Dakota County is about 18% higher than in Minnesota. Income has been growing slower in Dakota County (4.1%/yr) than in Minnesota (4.4%/yr).
About 19% of adults in Dakota County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Minnesota average of 15%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Dakota County, Minnesota grew by 44.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $106,144 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Dakota County
| Metric | Dakota County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.492 | 0.507 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $84,302 | $74,898 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $71,152 | $62,922 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.6% | 16.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Dakota County, it is 0.492, lower than Minnesota's 0.507, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Dakota County, Minnesota. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $460,250 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dakota County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 23% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $358 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Dakota County | Minnesota Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 21.3% | 17.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 8,944 people are unemployed in Dakota County, Minnesota.
The average commute time in Dakota County is 22 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Minnesota.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Dakota County, Minnesota has fallen from 6.3% to 3.6% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.7% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.5% in 2020.
Dakota County, MN Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Dakota County, MN is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 445,396 residents against a local median of 154,543. Where Dakota County, MN breaks from the counties next to it is median household income, sitting 27% above the local median of $83,371 at $106,144. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $37,840 on median household income, so Dakota County, MN sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Dakota County, MN has the 3rd highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota County, MN | 445,396 | $106,144 #3/6 | 4.1%/yr #3/6 | 3.6% #4/6 | 0.492 #2/6 |
| Ramsey County, MN | 542,690 | $82,398 | 4.5%/yr | 4.9% | 0.514 |
| Rice County, MN | 67,917 | $82,909 | 3.8%/yr | 4.5% | 0.535 |
| Washington County, MN | 276,224 | $115,522 | 3.7%/yr | 3.4% | 0.499 |
| Goodhue County, MN | 47,943 | $83,371 | 4.1%/yr | 3.6% | 0.491 |
| Scott County, MN | 154,543 | $120,239 | 3.6%/yr | 3.5% | 0.497 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Dakota County, Minnesota has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it somewhat better than Minnesota, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Dakota County, Minnesota.
How Rich Is Dakota County, Minnesota?
Dakota County has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $106,144, about 18% higher than the Minnesota average of $89,852.
How fast is household income rising in Dakota County, Minnesota?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Dakota County, Minnesota rose 45%, from $73,320 to $106,144. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Minnesota as a whole: +45% against +57%.
What was the median household income in Dakota County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Dakota County, Minnesota was $105,238, up 4% from $101,638 in 2022. The Minnesota median that year was $88,324.
What was the median household income in Dakota County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Dakota County, Minnesota was $88,893. By 2024 it had risen 19% to $106,144.
What is the Gini coefficient in Dakota County, Minnesota?
The Gini coefficient in Dakota County is 0.492. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Dakota County, Minnesota?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Dakota County, Minnesota has narrowed from about 23% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $358 since 2009.
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