The typical owner-occupied home in Dakota County is worth about $381,000, 16% above the Minnesota median of $329,300 and 15% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,749 a year in property taxes, about 0.98% of their home's value, close to the Minnesota rate of 1.02%. The median household earns $106,318 a year, so the median home costs 3.6 times the median income (3.7 times for Minnesota). 75% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 70% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Dakota County at a glance
| Dakota County | Minnesota | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $381,000 | $329,300 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,749 | $3,357 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.98% | 1.02% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $106,318 | $89,062 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 75% | 72% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 70% | 64% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,129 | $1,947 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.4% | 19.7% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,548 | $1,280 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 29.9% | 29.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1988 | 1979 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 2.5% | 9.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 445,771 | 5,739,445 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Dakota County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Dakota County home of $381,000 with 20% down costs about $2,520 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,155, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $108,013 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 28% of the median Dakota County household income of $106,318; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $375,000.
The median rent here is $1,548 a month, so owning the median home costs about $972 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $76,200 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $304,800 |
| Principal and interest | $2,050 |
| Property taxes (0.98% a year) | $311 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $159 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,520 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $13,335 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $374,099 |
| Principal and interest | $2,517 |
| Property taxes (0.98% a year) | $311 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $159 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $169 |
| Total per month | $3,155 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Dakota County
What is the median home value in Dakota County?
About $381,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Dakota County?
Homeowners pay a median $3,749 a year, which is about 0.98% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Dakota County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,520 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $108,013 a year.
More about Dakota County
- Mortgage Refinance in Dakota County
- Debt Relief in Dakota County
- Home Equity Loans in Dakota County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data