Metropolitan Council
- Data and Maps
  - Research and Data

Community Profiles

Community Profile for Dakota County

Each chart in the Community Profiles can be saved in JPEG, PNG or PDF formats or printed as a standalone page. To save as an image, right-click on the chart and select a format option. Once the "capturing data" process is over, review the saved charts on the CHART EXPORTS tab. Click the "save" button for any chart export listing you wish to save. Please note that the data source is not included in the saved images.

Please Contact Us by Clicking Here

Select another area:

OVERVIEW PEOPLEECONOMY AND JOBSINCOME AND POVERTYHOUSINGCOMMUTINGLAND USE AND DEVELOPMENTCHART EXPORTS

Area	586.2 sq miles 375,187 Acres
Parks, Recreation & Preserves (in 2020)	30,598 Acres
Population (2024)	454,301
Households (2024)	177,662
Employment (2024)	191,642
Community Website	Dakota County

Interactive Maps

Open and zoom to Dakota County

Open interactive map zoomed to Dakota County

Resources for Dakota County

Printable Maps

Find maps in the Map Gallery

Transit

Schedules
Plan your trip

Population/Households (Historic, Current, and Forecasts)
Population by Age and Gender
Highest Level of Education
Household Type
Average Household Size
Population by Race and Ethnicity

Select data to chart:

Population Households

Chart.

Click a population column for the mix of population in households and population in group quarters

(not available for forecast years).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census, Metropolitan Council Annual Estimates, and Metropolitan Council Forecasts.
Download chart data
Back to top

Population by Age and Gender in Dakota County

Select data to chart:
Census 1990Census 2000Census 2010ACS 2009-2013ACS 2014-2018Census 2020ACS 2019-2023

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Select data to chart:
Census 1990Census 2000ACS 2009-2013ACS 2014-2018ACS 2019-2023

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Select data to chart:
Census 1990Census 2000Census 2010ACS 2009-2013ACS 2014-2018Census 2020ACS 2019-2023

Chart.

The Census Bureau started classifying same-sex married couples as married in the 2009-2013 ACS release; previously, it had treated them as unmarried partners. Use caution when comparing household type categories in pre-2013 and 2013-onward ACS releases as well as in the 2010 and 2020 Census data.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey.

Download chart data
Back to top

Select any comparisons to include in the chart.

Twin Cities Region (7-county) Compare another place

Chart.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and Metropolitan Council Annual Estimates.
Download chart data
Back to top

Select data to chart:
Census 1990Census 2000Census 2010ACS 2009-2013ACS 2014-2018Census 2020ACS 2019-2023

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Employment by Community
Employment by Industry
Forecasted Employment
Average Annual Wages
Average Annual Unemployment

Due to data restrictions, employment data may not be available for all years.

Chart.

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data; Metropolitan Council staff have estimated some data points.
Download chart data
Back to top

Select data to chart:

Chart.

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data; Metropolitan Council staff have estimated some data points.
Download chart data
Back to top

Chart.

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data; Metropolitan Council staff have estimated some data points; and Metropolitan Council Forecasts.
Download chart data
Back to top

Select any comparisons to include in the chart.

Twin Cities Region (7-county) Compare another place

Chart.

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data. Data are not adjusted for inflation.
Download chart data
Link to inflation calculator
Back to top

Select any comparisons to include in the chart.

Twin Cities Region (7-county) Compare another place

Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA

Chart.

Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Current year data average monthly data year-to-date.
Download chart data
Back to top

Median Household Income
Per Capita Personal Income
Population Below the Federal Poverty Level

Select any comparisons to include in the chart.

Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA Compare another place

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey
Download chart data
Link to inflation calculator
Back to top

Select any comparisons to include in the chart.

Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA Compare another place

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey
Download chart data
Link to inflation calculator
Back to top

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey
Download chart data
Back to top

Housing Type
Housing Units Permitted
New Affordable Housing
Housing Tenure and Vacancy
Homeownership
Median Housing Value
Median Gross Rent
Count of Existing Home Sales by Price
Households Experiencing Housing Cost Burden

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and Metropolitan Council Housing Stock Estimates.
Download chart data
Back to top

Chart.

Note: Between 2003 & 2004 housing unit type definitions changed: Duplex category was expanded to include duplex, triplex and quad, and the definition of multifamily changed from 3 or more units to 5 or more units.
Source: Metropolitan Council Residential Building Permit Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Select data to chart:

Owner-occupied Renter-occupied

Chart.

Source: Metropolitan Council Affordable Housing Production Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Select any comparisons to include in the chart.

Twin Cities Region (7-county)

Compare another place

Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Select any comparisons to include in the chart.

Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA

Compare another place

Chart.

The Census Bureau began adjusting home values for inflation before summarizing them in the 2018-2022 ACS estimates. Median home values in 2018-2022 and subsequent ACS releases should not be compared with earlier ACS releases.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Link to inflation calculator
Back to top

Select any comparisons to include in the chart.

Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA

Compare another place

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Link to inflation calculator
Back to top

Select data to chart:

Chart.

Source: Certificate of Real Estate Value, Minnesota Department of Revenue.
Download chart data

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Households experience housing cost burden when their housing costs are 30% or more of their gross income. For renters, housing costs include rent and utilities; for owners, housing costs include mortgage principal and interest, property taxes, property insurance, utilities, and other fees. Use caution when comparing 1990 and 2000 data (which include only some households) to American Community Survey data (which include all households). See the metadata for more information.
Download chart data
Back to top

Means of Transportation to Work
Travel Time to Work
Average Travel Time to Work
Commuting Patterns

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Select data to chart:

Census 1990Census 2000ACS 2009-2013ACS 2014-2018ACS 2019-2023

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey. The universe is residents age 16 and over who worked outside the home.
Download chart data
Back to top

Chart.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Commuting Patterns for Dakota County

Select data to chart:

Top ten workplaces of people who live in
Dakota County

Workplaces	Workers
Minneapolis	25,827
St. Paul	19,593
Eagan	16,489
Bloomington	12,892
Burnsville	12,048
Lakeville	8,605
Apple Valley	7,379
Eden Prairie	5,612
Edina	4,890
Hastings	3,827
Other	67,553

Top ten residences of people who work in
Dakota County

Residences	Workers
Lakeville	12,000
St. Paul	10,161
Eagan	9,486
Apple Valley	8,776
Burnsville	8,341
Minneapolis	7,611
Farmington	5,294
Inver Grove Heights	4,831
Rosemount	4,815
Hastings	4,474
Other	59,441

Note: Workplaces and residences not in the top 10 are counted in "Other".
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Local Employment-Household Dynamics.
Download chart data: Commuteshed - Laborshed
Back to top

Generalized Land Use:

Table
Pie Chart

Features Affecting Development (includes MUSA, wetlands and slopes)

Regional Planned Land Use:

Table
Pie Chart

Commercial, Industrial, and Public and Institutional Construction Projects:

     Total Permit Value
     Total Permit Value by Type
     Total Square Footage Permitted
     Total Square Footage Permitted by Type

Generalized Land Use in Dakota County

Year

Land Use

2016

2020

Acres

Change

Acres

Change

Residential Total

62,896

N/A

65,441

4.05%

Single Family Detached

54,551

N/A

56,704

3.95%

Multifamily

8,345

N/A

8,737

4.70%

Commercial Total

6,151

N/A

6,352

3.27%

Retail and Other Commercial

4,554

N/A

4,763

4.59%

Office

1,595

N/A

1,589

-0.37%

Industrial Total

11,738

N/A

12,449

6.06%

Industrial and Utility

8,343

N/A

9,030

8.23%

Extractive

3,087

N/A

3,069

-0.59%

Railway

309

N/A

349

13.04%

Institutional Total

6,098

N/A

6,128

0.49%

Park and Recreational

31,530

N/A

33,708

6.91%

Park, Recreational or Preserve

28,390

N/A

30,598

7.78%

Golf Course

3,137

N/A

3,112

-0.77%

Mixed Use Total

919

N/A

1,200

30.58%

Mixed Use Residential

130

N/A

133

2.77%

Mixed Use Industrial

733

N/A

931

27.07%

Mixed Use Commercial and Other

N/A

137

132.54%

Major Roadways

5,425

N/A

5,434

0.17%

Airport

560

N/A

498

-11.07%

Agricultural and Undeveloped Total

236,889

N/A

230,975

-2.50%

Agriculture

182,298

N/A

179,210

-1.69%

Undeveloped Land

54,591

N/A

51,763

-5.18%

Open Water

12,981

N/A

12,999

0.14%

Total

375,187

N/A

375,184

0.00%

Sort A-Z
Sort Z-A
Clear Sorting
Reload Data
Hide this Field
Hide Field List
Show Field List

Expand
Collapse
Expand All
Collapse All
Remove All Sorting
Remove All Sorting

Field List

Loading…

Cancel

Loading…

This chart cannot be saved as an image. Please contact us at research@metc.state.mn.us if you need assistance.

Source: Metropolitan Council Generalized Land Use Historical Data Set
Download chart data
Back to top

Select data to chart:

Chart.

Source: Metropolitan Council Generalized Land Use Historical Data Set
Download chart data
Back to top

Features Affecting Development in Dakota County

YEAR

Features Affecting Development

Total

Total

Sort A-Z
Sort Z-A
Clear Sorting
Reload Data
Hide this Field
Hide Field List
Show Field List
Show Prefilter

Expand
Collapse
Expand All
Collapse All
Sort "Features Affecting Development" by This Column
Sort "Features Affecting Development" by This Column
Remove All Sorting
Sort "YEAR - Acres within MUSA" by This Row
Sort "YEAR - Total Acres" by This Row
Remove All Sorting

Field List

Loading…

Cancel

Loading…

This chart cannot be saved as an image. Please contact us at research@metc.state.mn.us if you need assistance.

Source: Metropolitan Council Generalized Land Use Inventories, Metropolitan Urban Service Areas (MUSA), Steep Slopes, National Wetland Inventory, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Q3 Flood Zones , and Metro Wetlands and Wet Areas.
Download chart data
Back to top

Regional Planned Land Use in Dakota County

Predominantly gathered from 2040 Comprehensive Plan Updates
(Note: Not all communities may have completed their 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update)

Year

Planned Land Use

2040

Acres

% of Total

Agricultural

209,307.3

49.55 %

Airport

790.6

0.19 %

Commercial

6,891.4

1.63 %

Industrial

14,274.5

3.38 %

Institutional

13,070.8

3.09 %

Mixed Use

524.7

0.12 %

Multifamily Residential

11,193.4

2.65 %

Multi-Optional Development

8,277.3

1.96 %

Open Space or Restrictive Use

10,541.5

2.50 %

Park and Recreation

39,023.5

9.24 %

Railway (inc. LRT)

1,579.1

0.37 %

Rights-of-Way (i.e., Roads)

5,678.9

1.34 %

Rural and Large-Lot Residential

23,320.9

5.52 %

Single Family Residential

64,255.4

15.21 %

Water

13,718.7

3.25 %

Total

422,447.9

100.00 %

Sort A-Z
Sort Z-A
Clear Sorting
Reload Data
Hide this Field
Hide Field List
Show Field List
Show Prefilter

Expand
Collapse
Expand All
Collapse All
Sort "Planned Land Use" by This Column
Sort "Planned Land Use" by This Column
Remove All Sorting
Sort "Year - Acres" by This Row
Sort "Year - % of Total" by This Row
Remove All Sorting

Field List

Loading…

Cancel

Loading…

This chart cannot be saved as an image. Please contact us at research@metc.state.mn.us if you need assistance.

Source: Metropolitan Council Regional Planned Land Use Data Set
Land Use Definitions (pdf)
Download chart data
Back to top

Regional Planned Land Use in Dakota County

Predominantly gathered from 2040 Comprehensive Plan Updates
(Note: Not all communities may have completed their 2018 Comprehensive Plan Update)

Chart.

Source: Metropolitan Council Regional Planned Land Use Data Set
Land Use Definitions (pdf)
Download chart data
Back to top

Chart.

Note: Cities and townships do not consistently report information on both square footage and permit value on commercial, industrial, and public and institutional building permits. View "Download Tabular Data" for more details.
Source: Metropolitan Council Commercial, Industrial, and Public and Institutional Building Permits Survey
Download chart data
Back to top

Select data to chart:

Chart.

Note: Cities and townships do not consistently report information on both square footage and permit value on commercial, industrial, and public and institutional building permits. View "Download Tabular Data" for more details.
Source: Metropolitan Council Commercial, Industrial, and Public and Institutional Building Permits Survey
Download chart data
Back to top

Chart.

Note: Cities and townships do not consistently report information on both square footage and permit value on commercial, industrial, and public and institutional building permits. View "Download Tabular Data" for more details.
Source: Metropolitan Council Commercial, Industrial, and Public and Institutional Building Permits Survey
Download chart data
Back to top

Select data to chart:

Chart.

Note: Cities and townships do not consistently report information on both square footage and permit value on commercial, industrial, and public and institutional building permits. View "Download Tabular Data" for more details.
Source: Metropolitan Council Commercial, Industrial, and Public and Institutional Building Permits Survey
Download chart data
Back to top

Community Profiles

Community Profile for Dakota County

Select another area:

Interactive Maps

Resources for Dakota County

Printable Maps

Transit

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census, Metropolitan Council Annual Estimates, and Metropolitan Council Forecasts. Download chart data Back to top

Population by Age and Gender in Dakota County

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey. Download chart data Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey. Download chart data Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey. Download chart data Back to top

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and Metropolitan Council Annual Estimates. Download chart data Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey. Download chart data Back to top

Due to data restrictions, employment data may not be available for all years.

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data; Metropolitan Council staff have estimated some data points. Download chart data Back to top

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data; Metropolitan Council staff have estimated some data points. Download chart data Back to top

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data; Metropolitan Council staff have estimated some data points; and Metropolitan Council Forecasts. Download chart data Back to top

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data. Data are not adjusted for inflation. Download chart data Link to inflation calculator Back to top

Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Current year data average monthly data year-to-date. Download chart data Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey Download chart data Link to inflation calculator Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey Download chart data Link to inflation calculator Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey Download chart data Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and Metropolitan Council Housing Stock Estimates. Download chart data Back to top

Source: Metropolitan Council Affordable Housing Production Survey. Download chart data Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey. Download chart data Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey. Download chart data Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey. Download chart data Link to inflation calculator Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey. Download chart data Link to inflation calculator Back to top

Source: Certificate of Real Estate Value, Minnesota Department of Revenue. Download chart data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey. Download chart data Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey. The universe is residents age 16 and over who worked outside the home. Download chart data Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey. Download chart data Back to top

Commuting Patterns for Dakota County

Top ten workplaces of people who live in Dakota County

Top ten residences of people who work in Dakota County

Note: Workplaces and residences not in the top 10 are counted in "Other". Source: U.S. Census Bureau Local Employment-Household Dynamics. Download chart data: Commuteshed - Laborshed Back to top

Generalized Land Use in Dakota County

Source: Metropolitan Council Generalized Land Use Historical Data Set Download chart data Back to top

Source: Metropolitan Council Generalized Land Use Historical Data Set Download chart data Back to top

Features Affecting Development in Dakota County

Source: Metropolitan Council Generalized Land Use Inventories, Metropolitan Urban Service Areas (MUSA), Steep Slopes, National Wetland Inventory, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Q3 Flood Zones , and Metro Wetlands and Wet Areas. Download chart data Back to top

Regional Planned Land Use in Dakota County

Source: Metropolitan Council Regional Planned Land Use Data Set Land Use Definitions (pdf) Download chart data Back to top

Regional Planned Land Use in Dakota County

Source: Metropolitan Council Regional Planned Land Use Data Set Land Use Definitions (pdf) Download chart data Back to top

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census, Metropolitan Council Annual Estimates, and Metropolitan Council Forecasts.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey.

Download chart data
Back to top

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and Metropolitan Council Annual Estimates.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census or American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data; Metropolitan Council staff have estimated some data points.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data; Metropolitan Council staff have estimated some data points.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data; Metropolitan Council staff have estimated some data points; and Metropolitan Council Forecasts.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 2nd quarter data. Data are not adjusted for inflation.
Download chart data
Link to inflation calculator
Back to top

Source: Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Current year data average monthly data year-to-date.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey
Download chart data
Link to inflation calculator
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey
Download chart data
Link to inflation calculator
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and Metropolitan Council Housing Stock Estimates.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: Metropolitan Council Affordable Housing Production Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Link to inflation calculator
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Link to inflation calculator
Back to top

Source: Certificate of Real Estate Value, Minnesota Department of Revenue.
Download chart data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey. The universe is residents age 16 and over who worked outside the home.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Decennial Census and American Community Survey.
Download chart data
Back to top

Top ten workplaces of people who live in
Dakota County

Top ten residences of people who work in
Dakota County

Note: Workplaces and residences not in the top 10 are counted in "Other".
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Local Employment-Household Dynamics.
Download chart data: Commuteshed - Laborshed
Back to top

Source: Metropolitan Council Generalized Land Use Historical Data Set
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: Metropolitan Council Generalized Land Use Historical Data Set
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: Metropolitan Council Generalized Land Use Inventories, Metropolitan Urban Service Areas (MUSA), Steep Slopes, National Wetland Inventory, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Q3 Flood Zones , and Metro Wetlands and Wet Areas.
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: Metropolitan Council Regional Planned Land Use Data Set
Land Use Definitions (pdf)
Download chart data
Back to top

Source: Metropolitan Council Regional Planned Land Use Data Set
Land Use Definitions (pdf)
Download chart data
Back to top