Dakota County, Nebraska Demographics 2026

Name: Dakota County, Nebraska Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Dakota County, Nebraska has a population of 21,354, the 16th most populous county in Nebraska. The median household income is $70,329 and the median home value is $185,700. The poverty rate is 11.5%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Dakota County Quick Facts

Population 21,354

Median Household Income $70,329

Median Home Value $185,700

Poverty Rate 11.5%

Unemployment Rate 4.8%

Median Age 32.5 years

Homeownership Rate 63.9%

Affordability Ratio 2.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 14.6%

High School Graduation 78.8%

Cities/Places 6

Population 21,354 16th of 93

Median Income $70,329 8% lower than state

Poverty Rate 11.5%

Unemployment 4.8%

How Dakota County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	21,331	21,354	+0.1%
Median household income	$71,655	$70,329	-1.9%
Median home value	$168,100	$185,700	+10.5%

Median Household Income

Dakota

$70,329

$76,475

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Dakota

$185,700

$238,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 11.7%

$25K-$50K 18.9%

$50K-$100K 36.9%

$100K+ 32.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.9%

$10K-$15K

1.9%

$15K-$20K

3.1%

$20K-$25K

2.8%

$25K-$30K

3.3%

$30K-$35K

3.6%

$35K-$40K

5.1%

$40K-$45K

3.8%

$45K-$50K

3.1%

$50K-$60K

10.9%

$60K-$75K

11.9%

$75K-$100K

14.1%

$100K-$125K

12.4%

$125K-$150K

7.9%

$150K-$200K

7.6%

$200K+

4.5%

Employment

4.8% Unemployment Rate State: 3.0%|National: 5.2%

71.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 63.9%

Renter 36.1%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.6x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $1,069/mo 18.2% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

29.5%

18-34

23.4%

35-54

22.2%

55-74

19.5%

75+

5.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

High Diversity

A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.

State average: 41 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Dakota County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
South Sioux City	13,907	$68,223	12.2%	$174,700
Dakota City	2,675	$76,806	7.3%	$177,800
Emerson	885	$57,292	16.0%	$116,400
Homer	446	$80,714	10.9%	$162,900
Jackson	273	$51,250	5.1%	$196,900
Hubbard	190	$58,750	7.4%	$185,700

Explore Nebraska Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Dakota County is located in Nebraska with a total population of 21,354. It is the 16th most populous county out of 93 in Nebraska. The county encompasses 6 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Dakota County is 32.5 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 37.2 years. With 29.5% of the population under 18, Dakota County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Dakota County is $70,329. This is 8% lower than the state median of $76,475. It is also 13% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.5%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.8%. This is 59% higher than the state rate of 3.0%. The median home value is $185,700. Housing costs are 22% lower than the state median of $238,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.6x, Dakota County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 63.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 66.5%.

Race & Ethnicity

Dakota County is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 41.6%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (8.7% vs 4.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (41.6% vs 12.7%).

Education

14.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 58% lower than the state rate of 34.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 78.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Dakota County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Nebraska and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Dakota County, Nebraska?

Dakota County has a population of 21,354, making it the 16th most populous county in Nebraska.

What is the median income in Dakota County?

The median household income in Dakota County is $70,329 with a poverty rate of 11.5%.

How many cities are in Dakota County, Nebraska?

Dakota County contains 6 Census-designated places.