Dakota County, NE

This county of 21,750 residents needs 830 more housing units over the next five years. Dakota County is part of the Sioux City MPO.

Housing snapshot

Population
21,750 (2026)
Households
7,436
Median household income
$77,198 (2026)
Typical home value
$234,117
Owner-occupied
61%
Five-year housing need
830 units

Comparison to other Nebraska counties

Dakota County: $77,198 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$45K >$106K
Dakota County: 2.0 jobs to household ratio
<0.48 >1.66
Dakota County: Permits since 2021 represent 2.0% of housing
<0.1% >7.1%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $234,117, typical home prices in Dakota County, NE are close to the Nebraska average of $223,818. Dakota County, NE's median household income of $77,198 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Dakota County, NE has a population of roughly 21,354 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Dakota County, NE has roughly 7,436 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

In Dakota County, NE, detached single-family accounts for 69% of the housing stock. Homeownership is the norm in Dakota County, NE, with 61% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Dakota County, NE needs 830 new units over the next 5 years.

830
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
65
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.7 per 1,000 units.
63
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 0.2%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
159
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 2.1%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
464
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 9.6%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
79
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 2.04%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
830
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
166
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
10.6%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
2.1%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How do these communities compare to each other?