RANK #721 / 1001 NAT · #14 / 18 MN · POP 445,771
1YR FORECAST: -0.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +25%
Dakota County, Minnesota, stands out for its extensive park system, with Lebanon Hills Regional Park being a major highlight, offering nearly 2,000 acres of trails and lakes for year-round outdoor activities. Located in the southeastern Twin Cities metropolitan area, the county is bordered by the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, providing scenic natural landscapes. Commuting to Minneapolis and St. Paul is facilitated by major interstates and transit options, including bus rapid transit lines. The community offers a blend of urban, suburban, and rural environments.
Life in Dakota County is characterized by a high quality of life, with residents consistently rating it favorably. The area attracts families and professionals, many of whom commute to nearby cities. Public schools in Dakota County are highly rated, with several high schools recognized among the best in Minnesota. The local economy is seeing investment in sectors such as data centers and energy, contributing to job opportunities within the county. The county also focuses on providing quality workforce housing and enhancing transportation networks.
Dakota County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.6% runs below the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Harsh climate or flat terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 12.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Farmington Technology Park (Hyperscale Data Center Campus)
Tract Development
|
$5,000M | Proposed |
|
Oppidan MN Technology Park (5 Data Centers)
Oppidan
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Meta Data Center
Meta
|
$800M | Under Construction |
|
HAMPTON 345 KV Battery Energy Storage System
Undisclosed
|
$300M | Planned |
|
Castle Rock Solar Project
Castle Rock Solar, LLC (Midcontinental Renewables, LLC)
|
$150M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 27/100, Dakota County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $106,318 combined with job growth of -0.2% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Dakota County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $381,000 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.28, with rents averaging $1,548/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Dakota County's population is growing — up +0.8% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.2%). Home values shifted +1.6% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.51% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Dakota County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.