County profile · Nebraska
Dakota County, NE market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Dakota County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 21,687
- +0.7% since 2020
- Households
- 7,459
- Median household income
- $70,329
- +18.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $185,700
- Jobs located here
- 15,030
- Highest market score
- 69
- Gas stations, #422 of 2,358 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 21,687 people live in Dakota County, in 7,459 households. Population estimates show Dakota County grew 0.7% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Dakota County is $70,329 a year, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 18.7% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Dakota County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (60).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Dakota County are for gas stations (69), dentists and orthodontists (68) and spas and skin care studios (61). Dakota County ranks #422 of 2,358 scored counties for gas stations.
Dakota County is part of the Sioux City metro area. For its number of households, Dakota County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for car washes and detailers (3.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate businesses (62% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas stations | 69 | #422 of 2,358 | 6 | 8.0 | $3.8M | 159 | 8 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 68 | #304 of 1,886 | 5 | 6.7 | $2M | 203 | 5 |
| Spas and skin care | 61 | #480 of 1,769 | 5 | 6.7 | $1.4M | 161 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 58 | #831 of 2,394 | 42 | 56.3 | $238K | 156 | 17 |
| Auto repair shops | 57 | #845 of 2,378 | 16 | 21.5 | $552K | 124 | 11 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 55 | #860 of 2,087 | 9 | 12.1 | $1.5M | 121 | 3 |
| Real estate | 53 | #904 of 2,229 | 11 | 14.7 | Index only | 211 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 50 | #1,031 of 2,176 | 10 | 13.4 | Index only | 184 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 49 | #1,137 of 2,200 | 8 | 10.7 | $734K | 84 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 49 | #1,161 of 2,261 | 8 | 10.7 | $5.5M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 49 | #1,231 of 2,385 | 31 | 41.6 | $227K | 107 | 5 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 48 | #1,281 of 2,402 | 14 | 18.8 | $3.1M | 93 | 7 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 45 | #1,328 of 2,210 | 19 | 25.5 | $726K | 82 | 3 |
| Pizza | 41 | #1,401 of 2,090 | 7 | 9.4 | $3.9M | 77 | 16 |
| Grocery stores | 40 | #1,342 of 2,070 | 5 | 6.7 | $8.8M | 95 | 7 |
| Hair salons | 40 | #1,656 of 2,339 | 19 | 25.5 | $371K | 86 | Under 3 |
| Auto repair and car care | 39 | #1,709 of 2,401 | 38 | 50.9 | $233K | 87 | 17 |
| Insurance agencies | 37 | #1,587 of 2,272 | 14 | 18.8 | $989K | 79 | 6 |
| Home repair trades | 37 | #1,625 of 2,057 | 11 | 14.7 | $1.7M | 72 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 36 | #1,373 of 1,771 | 6 | 8.0 | $1.5M | 87 | 12 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 36 | #1,640 of 2,222 | 12 | 16.1 | $2.3M | 75 | 16 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 35 | #1,490 of 1,889 | 10 | 13.4 | $2.7M | 66 | 4 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 35 | #1,594 of 2,063 | 12 | 16.1 | $2.3M | 62 | 4 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 35 | #1,839 of 2,405 | 45 | 60.3 | $608K | 92 | 16 |
| Nail salons | 32 | #1,113 of 1,328 | 6 | 8.0 | $1.2M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | 31 | #1,260 of 1,490 | 9 | 12.1 | $1.1M | 46 | 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 31 | #1,986 of 2,405 | 92 | 123.3 | $297K | 80 | 36 |
| Car washes and detailing | 25 | #1,313 of 1,451 | 10 | 13.4 | $884K | 35 | 4 |
| Child care and preschools | 20 | #1,495 of 1,611 | 9 | 12.1 | $289K | 29 | 5 |
| Laundromats | 19 | #719 of 785 | 7 | 9.4 | $2M | 16 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.4 | $2.2M | 72 | 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.4 | $4.8M | 40 | 6 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.4 | $1.4M | 218 | 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.4 | $2.5M | 104 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 5.4 | $4.8M | 57 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $1.9M | 148 | 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $2.9M | 46 | 6 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $6.4M | 135 | 5 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $2.9M | 99 | 6 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $3.3M | 106 | 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $3.3M | 187 | 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $4.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 2.7 | $2.9M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $978K | Too few | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $5.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $8.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 3 |
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 | $8.8M | $1,185 | 124 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $22.7M | $3,044 | 117 |
| Food away from home | $27.4M | $3,669 | 90 |
| Groceries | $44M | $5,897 | 93 |
| Personal care products and services | $7M | $945 | 94 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.6M | $349 | 60 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $5.8M | $775 | 79 |
| Medical and dental services | $10M | $1,338 | 104 |
| Pets | $5.9M | $787 | 87 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $13.8M | $1,850 | 90 |
| Vehicle insurance | $13.8M | $1,856 | 95 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $19.2M | $2,575 | 85 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $8.7M | $1,171 | 83 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $100.5M | $13,470 | 81 |
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
- 21,687+0.7% since 2020
- Households
- 7,459
- Median age
- 34.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 64%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 264 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 81
- Median household income
- $70,329+18.7% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $91,843
- Median home value
- $185,700
- Jobs located here
- 15,030
- Daytime population
- 25,103Residents 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
Nearest counties in Nebraska 8
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- Thurston County, NE6,627 people
- Wayne County, NE9,844 people
- Cuming County, NE8,975 people
- Burt County, NE6,740 people
- Cedar County, NE8,315 people
- Stanton County, NE5,796 people
- Pierce County, NE7,325 people
Questions
How fast is Dakota County, NE growing?
Population estimates put Dakota County at 21,687 people in 2025, up 0.7% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 7,459 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 18.7%, before inflation.
How much do households in Dakota County, NE spend?
Households in Dakota County spend about $100.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $44M on groceries and $27.4M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Dakota County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (60).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Dakota County, NE?
Of the business types scored in Dakota County, gas stations (69), dentists and orthodontists (68) and spas and skin care studios (61) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For gas stations, that ranks #422 of 2,358 scored counties.
How does Dakota County, NE compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Dakota County is $70,329, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 0.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $185,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for car washes and detailers (3.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate businesses (62% 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. 30 of the 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.
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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.