Dakota County, Minnesota
Located in Minnesota, Dakota County has a population of 445,771 residents and a median age of 38.6 years, making it the #163 most populous county out of 3,222 nationwide. In terms of economic indicators, the county has a poverty rate of 5.8%. The median home value is $381,000, and the median household income is $106,318, which is 41% above the national median.
Demographics
Dakota County has a population of 445,771, making it the #163 most populous county in the US. The median age is 38.6 years, which is 0.8% below the national median.
Population Trend
Rankings →Year-over-Year Population Growth
Age & Sex Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Nativity
Geographic Mobility (Past Year)
Economy
The median household income in Dakota County is $106,318, ranking #116 out of 3,222 counties — 41.5% above the national median. The poverty rate is 5.8% and unemployment stands at 3.6%.
Median Household Income Trend
Rankings →Income Distribution
Industry of Employment
Occupation
Housing
The median home value in Dakota County is $381,000 (+35.2% vs national). Renters pay a median of $1,548/mo and the homeownership rate is 74.9%.
Median Home Value Trend
Rankings →Household Type
Education
In Dakota County, 45.0% of adults age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is 33.7% above the national average, ranking #172 out of 3,222 counties.
Bachelor's Degree or Higher Trend
Rankings →Health & Wellbeing
Life expectancy in Dakota County is 80.9 years. 11.8% of adults report poor or fair health and 4.5% lack health insurance. Data from County Health Rankings (2025).
Life Expectancy Trend
Substance Use
11.3% of adults in Dakota County smoke , 32.9% are obese , and 20.6% report excessive drinking. The drug overdose death rate is 14.6 per 100,000.
Adult Smoking Trend
Safety
The homicide rate in Dakota County is 2.0 per 100,000 and the suicide rate is 11.7 per 100,000. Motor vehicle deaths occur at a rate of 4.9 per 100,000.
Homicide Rate Trend
Families & Children
6.4% of children in Dakota County live in poverty and the infant mortality rate is 3.6 per 1,000 live births. The teen birth rate is 6.1 per 1,000 females age 15–19.
Infant Mortality Trend
Civic & Transportation
Voter turnout in Dakota County is 85.9%. The mean commute time is 25.7 min, which is 6.8% below the national average.
Voter Turnout Trend
Mean Commute Time Trend
Rankings →Elections
In the 2024 presidential election, Dakota County voted Democratic with a margin of 12.9%. The vote was 55.4% Dem / 42.5% Rep. Compared to 2020, the margin shifted 1.0 toward Republicans .
Vote Share Over Time
About Dakota County, Minnesota
Dakota County, Minnesota has a total population of 445,771, making it the 163rd most populous county in the United States. The median age in Dakota County is 38.6 years, which is 0.8% below the national median of 38.9 years.
The median household income in Dakota County is $106,318, which ranks #116 of 3,222 counties nationwide. This is 41.5% above the national median of $75,149. The poverty rate is 5.8%, lower than the national rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate stands at 3.6%.
The median home value in Dakota County is $381,000, 35.2% above the national median. Renters in Dakota County pay a median gross rent of $1,548 per month. The homeownership rate is 74.9%, compared to the national rate of 64.4%.
In Dakota County, 45.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 33.7% above the national average of 33.7%. Health insurance coverage stands at 95.8% of the population. The average commute time for workers is 25.7 min.
Dakota County is a diverse community. The largest racial or ethnic group is White (non-Hispanic) at 72.7% of the population, followed by Hispanic or Latino (8.7%) and Black (non-Hispanic) (7.7%).
All data for Dakota County, Minnesota comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. These figures are estimates based on survey sampling and are subject to margin of error. For the most detailed and up-to-date data, visit the Census Bureau's official data portal.