Map the Block › Places › Minnesota › Dakota County
Dakota County, Minnesota in numbers: crime, income, hazards
The violent-crime rate in Dakota County was 1.6 per 1,000 residents (2021-2025 average, FBI), 39% lower than the statewide rate (2.7). Households here have a median income of $106,318 and the unemployment rate was 4.6% in August 2026. It is home to roughly 445,771 residents.
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2021-2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Unemployment: BLS August 2026. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income · hazard risk · Superfund · dams
What is the crime rate in Dakota County?
Over 2021-2025, the county's police agencies sent the FBI reports of about 726 violent and 6,897 property crimes per year. The violent rate, 1.6 per 1,000 people, is 39% lower than the Minnesota rate (2.7); nationally it is 3.7. For property crime the county rate is 15.5 per 1,000 (Minnesota: 17.5; U.S.: 18.1). Most violent crimes here are aggravated assaults (69%). CDC death records show about 8 homicide deaths a year in the county (2.0 per 100,000), a count that includes cases police may classify differently.
| Offense (yearly average, 2021-2025) | Dakota County | Per 1,000 | Minnesota per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 726 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 3.7 |
| Murder | 6 | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.06 |
| Rape | 155 | 0.35 | 0.40 | 0.40 |
| Robbery | 67 | 0.15 | 0.52 | 0.62 |
| Aggravated assault | 498 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 2.6 |
| Property crime | 6,897 | 15.5 | 17.5 | 18.1 |
| Burglary | 619 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 |
| Larceny-theft | 5,718 | 12.8 | 13.1 | 13.0 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 560 | 1.3 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. County figures add up the city police and sheriff reports in the county (12 agencies; 100% of residents covered).
What is the median household income in Dakota County?
Median household income is $106,318, 19% higher than the statewide figure ($89,062). Owner-occupied homes have a median value of $381,000, and the median rent is $1,548 a month. 4.9% of households received SNAP benefits in the past year (state: 7.9%). The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.6% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 11,636 people out of work and looking.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Dakota County | Minnesota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 445,771 | 5,739,445 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $106,318 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $381,000 | $329,300 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,548 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 3.6% | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 5.8% | 9.3% | 12.5% |
| Households receiving SNAP (food stamps) | 4.9% | 7.9% | 12.1% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 45.0% | 39.4% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 74.9% | 72.2% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 38.6 | 38.8 | 38.9 |
| Households with broadband internet | 94.4% | 91.6% | 91.0% |
| People without health insurance | 4.2% | 4.7% | 8.4% |
What natural hazards and environmental sites are in Dakota County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Dakota County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively Moderate”. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: tornadoes (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Superfund sites
1 Superfund site is on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Dakota County: Freeway Sanitary Landfill. 4 other sites have finished cleanup and been taken off the list. A listing means EPA is managing a long-term cleanup; it does not by itself mean anyone is exposed today.
Industrial chemical releases
21 facilities in the county filed Toxics Release Inventory reports for 2024, together reporting 3,401,795 pounds of listed chemicals released on site. Reported releases are legal permitted amounts in most cases.
Disasters, air and water
No federal major disaster declaration covered Dakota County from 2016 through 2025 (COVID-19 excluded). In 2024, 1 of 366 monitored days had an air quality index of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse (EPA). Of 20 community water systems, none had an open health-based drinking-water violation in EPA's records (September 2026). EPA puts the county in radon zone 1 (highest). NHTSA counted 23 traffic deaths in the county in 2024, including 6 pedestrians.
Is there road construction in Dakota County?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 21 highway work zones in Dakota County (15 active that day). Listed roads include I-35W, MN 77 and MN 13. 9 are on interstates. The map's construction layer is refreshed every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in Dakota County?
Dakota County has 170 public schools (2024-25) and 23 private schools (2023-24) in federal school lists. 9 nursing homes are certified by Medicare or Medicaid here; star ratings for each are on the map and on Medicare's Care Compare. USGS mapping shows 27 fire or EMS stations and 12 police or sheriff stations. 1 state park or recreation area: Fort Snelling State Park.
What tribal lands and sacred sites are in Dakota County?
1 ancient or sacred site is on the map here: Bdóte. Many are sacred to living communities, so visit respectfully and follow posted rules.
See them on the map: sacred sites →
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Dakota County
Gun shops
12 gun shops with a public storefront are on the map in Dakota County, plus 52 more licensed dealers without a public storefront (not shown). 5 of them are pawnshops licensed to sell guns. On the ATF list: Accutac Arms / Silencer Warehouse (Lakeville), Fleet Farm (Hastings), Fleet Farm (Lakeville), Gentz Sporting Arms LLC (Lakeville), Liberty Arms Training (Rosemount), Midwest Vantage Point / Unwanted Guns Mn (Farmington), Pawn America (West Saint Paul), Pawn America Minnesota LLC (3 in Burnsville) and 2 more.
Liquor stores
55 liquor stores are on the map in Dakota County: A & M Liquor, ACE Liquor Warehouse (Hastings), Alley Cat Liquor (Hastings), Apple Valley Liquor (Apple Valley), Apple Valley Liquor Store #3 (Apple Valley), Apple Valley Liquors (Apple Valley), Arbor Pointe Liquor, Atomic Liquors (Eagan) and 47 more. Minnesota has no complete public liquor licence list we can use, so this count also draws on OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps and may miss some stores or include closed ones.
Planned Parenthood
There is no Planned Parenthood health center in Dakota County on the map.
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official; partial in some states); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Dakota County?
Dakota County averaged 726 reported violent crimes a year in 2021-2025, or 1.6 per 1,000 residents, 39% lower than the Minnesota rate (2.7). The property-crime rate was 15.5 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Dakota County?
$106,318 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024 average), compared with $89,062 for Minnesota and $80,734 nationally.
What is the unemployment rate in Dakota County?
The newest monthly figure from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is 4.6% for August 2026 (preliminary), with 11,636 people out of work and looking.
What natural hazards affect Dakota County?
On FEMA's National Risk Index, Dakota County has an overall natural-hazard risk rating of “Relatively Moderate”. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: tornadoes (Relatively High).
Are there Superfund sites in Dakota County?
1 Superfund site is on or proposed for EPA's National Priorities List in Dakota County: Freeway Sanitary Landfill. 4 other sites have finished cleanup and been taken off the list.
Is there road construction in Dakota County right now?
On October 11, 2026 the state transportation feed listed 21 highway work zones in Dakota County (15 active that day). Listed roads include I-35W, MN 77 and MN 13. 9 are on interstates.
How many nursing homes are in Dakota County?
9 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes (CMS provider data, September 2026).
How does Dakota County compare with neighboring counties?
| County | Population | Violent crimes per 1,000 (2021-25) | Median household income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodhue County | 47,943 | 1.3 | $84,171 |
| Hennepin County | 1,269,496 | 5.2 | $97,653 |
| Pierce County, WI | 42,584 | 0.88 | $92,109 |
| Ramsey County | 542,945 | 4.7 | $81,568 |
| Rice County | 67,917 | 1.8 | $83,181 |
| Scott County | 154,557 | 0.96 | $119,314 |
| Washington County | 276,238 | 0.98 | $115,345 |
Cities in Dakota County with their own page: Lakeville, Eagan, Burnsville, Apple Valley.
More: Minnesota statewide numbers · Sex-offender registry search (U.S. Justice Department, NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting 2021-2025 (agency level, Return A), averaged and summed by county by Map the Block; Census population; state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes 2021-2025.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables.
- Monthly unemployment: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), county data, not seasonally adjusted. Public domain.
- Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores; disasters: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026). Chemical releases: U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory, reporting year 2024 (basic data file).
- Air and water: U.S. EPA AirData, annual AQI by county 2024; EPA Air Quality Design Values 2023-2025 (June 2026); U.S. EPA SDWIS via ECHO drinking-water download (September 30, 2026). Traffic deaths: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024; Census population.
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026). Stations: U.S. Geological Survey, National Structures Dataset (Fire Stations/EMS Stations), October 2026 pull.
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
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