County profile · Minnesota
Dakota County, MN market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Dakota County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 457,710
- +3.9% since 2020
- Households
- 174,362
- Median household income
- $106,318
- +23.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $381,000
- Jobs located here
- 180,369
- Highest market score
- 91
- Convenience stores, #28 of 2,261 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Dakota County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Dakota County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 457,710 people live in Dakota County, in 174,362 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Dakota County grew 3.9%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Dakota County is $106,318 a year, 32% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 23.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Dakota County spend the most on medical and dental services (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on vehicle insurance (85).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Dakota County are for convenience stores (91), grocery and convenience stores (90) and primary care and pediatric clinics (89). Dakota County ranks #28 of 2,261 scored counties for convenience stores.
Dakota County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area. For its number of households, Dakota County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for chiropractors (89% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for primary care and pediatric clinics (56% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Dakota County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Dakota County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convenience stores | 91 | #28 of 2,261 | 102 | 5.8 | $11.6M | 147 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 90 | #47 of 2,402 | 213 | 12.2 | $5.5M | 164 | 66 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 89 | #15 of 1,656 | 55 | 3.2 | $5.3M | 298 | 109 |
| Pest control | 85 | #6 of 699 | 7 | 0.4 | $36.4M | 356 | 4 |
| Electricians | 85 | #24 of 1,160 | 31 | 1.8 | $18.2M | 152 | 67 |
| Laundromats | 85 | #33 of 785 | 19 | 1.1 | $21.8M | 174 | 7 |
| Physical therapy | 84 | #24 of 1,422 | 65 | 3.7 | $4.5M | 187 | 50 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 84 | #31 of 1,707 | 81 | 4.6 | $7M | 147 | 107 |
| Car washes and detailing | 84 | #42 of 1,451 | 64 | 3.7 | $3.1M | 123 | 11 |
| Tire shops | 84 | #54 of 1,530 | 49 | 2.8 | $4.1M | 162 | 20 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 83 | #31 of 1,302 | 57 | 3.3 | $5.1M | 163 | 27 |
| Grocery stores | 83 | #130 of 2,070 | 70 | 4.0 | $16.9M | 181 | 62 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 82 | #68 of 1,889 | 102 | 5.8 | $8.1M | 195 | 81 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 82 | #78 of 2,063 | 125 | 7.2 | $6.6M | 178 | 73 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 82 | #92 of 2,405 | 689 | 39.5 | $1.2M | 181 | 260 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 82 | #102 of 2,405 | 1,223 | 70.1 | $675K | 182 | 630 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 80 | #121 of 2,222 | 179 | 10.3 | $4.6M | 151 | 296 |
| Barbershops | 79 | #78 of 1,356 | 44 | 2.5 | $4.7M | 249 | 12 |
| Pizza | 79 | #102 of 2,090 | 123 | 7.1 | $6.7M | 132 | 296 |
| Auto repair and car care | 79 | #145 of 2,401 | 496 | 28.4 | $400K | 149 | 222 |
| Home repair trades | 78 | #72 of 2,057 | 189 | 10.8 | $3M | 123 | 220 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 77 | #18 of 325 | 12 | 0.7 | $24.3M | 99 | 7 |
| Auto repair shops | 77 | #166 of 2,378 | 273 | 15.7 | $728K | 164 | 172 |
| Gas stations | 77 | #206 of 2,358 | 107 | 6.1 | $4.5M | 189 | 117 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 76 | #117 of 1,327 | 43 | 2.5 | $4.6M | 150 | 45 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 75 | #120 of 1,461 | 58 | 3.3 | $3.1M | 124 | 37 |
| Veterinarians | 75 | #186 of 1,485 | 65 | 3.7 | $2.8M | 103 | 43 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 73 | #54 of 777 | 25 | 1.4 | $8.7M | 215 | 63 |
| Dry cleaners | 72 | #54 of 507 | 21 | 1.2 | $19.7M | 126 | 13 |
| Funeral homes | 71 | #217 of 1,472 | 23 | 1.3 | $998K | 147 | 12 |
| Pet businesses | 71 | #244 of 2,200 | 184 | 10.6 | $993K | 113 | 103 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 68 | #90 of 479 | 13 | 0.7 | $15.3M | 111 | 13 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 68 | #200 of 1,334 | 78 | 4.5 | $2.8M | 139 | 67 |
| Hair salons | 68 | #362 of 2,339 | 363 | 20.8 | $569K | 132 | 117 |
| Gyms | 67 | #292 of 1,792 | 151 | 8.7 | $1.4M | 111 | 63 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 67 | #456 of 2,394 | 1,167 | 66.9 | $250K | 164 | 480 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 67 | #468 of 2,087 | 223 | 12.8 | $1.9M | 146 | 129 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 66 | #373 of 2,088 | 254 | 14.6 | $859K | 130 | 130 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 66 | #492 of 2,210 | 310 | 17.8 | $1.3M | 151 | 149 |
| Property management | 63 | #233 of 910 | 33 | 1.9 | Index only | 154 | 90 |
| Home inspectors | 59 | #126 of 415 | 10 | 0.6 | Index only | 108 | 12 |
| Nail salons | 59 | #422 of 1,328 | 94 | 5.4 | $2.2M | 132 | 85 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 59 | #696 of 2,385 | 703 | 40.3 | $294K | 138 | 278 |
| Pet stores | 58 | #348 of 974 | 39 | 2.2 | $4.7M | 104 | 23 |
| Roofing and gutters | 57 | #433 of 1,177 | 77 | 4.4 | $7.3M | 87 | 46 |
| Spas and skin care | 55 | #704 of 1,769 | 193 | 11.1 | $1.1M | 122 | 58 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 55 | #769 of 1,886 | 256 | 14.7 | $1.1M | 116 | 173 |
| House cleaning | 52 | #369 of 847 | 39 | 2.2 | $6.5M | 102 | 151 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 52 | #782 of 1,771 | 167 | 9.6 | $1.5M | 91 | 371 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 49 | #738 of 1,493 | 121 | 6.9 | $2.1M | 72 | 216 |
| Child care and preschools | 49 | #856 of 1,611 | 133 | 7.6 | $754K | 75 | 137 |
| Chiropractors | 44 | #915 of 1,490 | 177 | 10.2 | $1.6M | 69 | 114 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 42 | #584 of 887 | 80 | 4.6 | Index only | 91 | 47 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 40 | #1,597 of 2,176 | 531 | 30.5 | Index only | 98 | 281 |
| Real estate | 39 | #1,687 of 2,229 | 654 | 37.5 | Index only | 100 | 500 |
| Insurance agencies | 23 | #2,020 of 2,272 | 370 | 21.2 | $782K | 62 | 263 |
Household spending in Dakota County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $198.6M | $1,139 | 119 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $481.4M | $2,761 | 106 |
| Food away from home | $825.7M | $4,735 | 116 |
| Groceries | $1.2B | $6,771 | 107 |
| Personal care products and services | $206.6M | $1,185 | 118 |
| Child care and other personal services | $100.3M | $575 | 99 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $218.2M | $1,252 | 127 |
| Medical and dental services | $292M | $1,675 | 130 |
| Pets | $182.7M | $1,048 | 115 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $413.3M | $2,370 | 115 |
| Vehicle insurance | $289.2M | $1,659 | 85 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $565.2M | $3,241 | 107 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $254.6M | $1,460 | 103 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $2.8B | $16,203 | 97 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Dakota County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 457,710+3.9% since 2020
- Households
- 174,362
- Median age
- 39.8
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 75%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 563 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 792
- Median household income
- $106,318+23.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $131,265
- Median home value
- $381,000
- Jobs located here
- 180,369
- Daytime population
- 396,728Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Dakota County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Dakota County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Dakota County, MN growing?
Population estimates put Dakota County at 457,710 people in 2025, up 3.9% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 174,362 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 23.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Dakota County, MN spend?
Households in Dakota County spend about $2.8B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $1.2B on groceries and $825.7M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Dakota County runs highest on medical and dental services (an index of 130, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on vehicle insurance (85).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Dakota County, MN?
Of the business types scored in Dakota County, convenience stores (91), grocery and convenience stores (90) and primary care and pediatric clinics (89) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For convenience stores, that ranks #28 of 2,261 scored counties.
How does Dakota County, MN compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Dakota County is $106,318, 32% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 3.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $381,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for chiropractors (89% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for primary care and pediatric clinics (56% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in Dakota County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Dakota County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Minnesota · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Dakota County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Dakota County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.