The Town FilesDakota, Illinois
Village in Stephenson County · population 500 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,600
- Household income
- $55,815
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 35 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 32.8
Dakota is a village of 500 people in Stephenson County, Illinois. The median home is worth $115,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks more of a college town than 92% of Illinois towns, easier by car than 87% of Illinois towns, better for families than 84% of Illinois towns.
How Dakota ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dakota is worth $115,600, below the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $55,815, which is more affordable than 55% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $656 a month. 57.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dakota | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,600 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $656 | $960 |
| Median household income | $55,815 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.6% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dakota
| People | Dakota | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 32.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 25.0 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.0% | 90.4% |
Weather in Dakota
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 11.3°F. About 38.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dakota since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 17, 2026 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 17, 2026.
Severe weather in Stephenson County since 1996
Stephenson County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| September 19, 2019 | Flood | DR-4461: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| August 19, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1935: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Stephenson County
Stephenson County had 17,367 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,932 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Dakota itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Dakota
2 public schools with 749 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dakota Elementary School | PK-6 | 406 | 13.5 |
| Dakota Jr Sr High School | 7-12 | 343 | 13.7 |
Towns near Dakota
- Cedarville, IL5.7 mi · 663 people · home $125,700
- Davis, IL6.2 mi · 589 people · home $142,700
- Willow Lake, IL6.7 mi · 1,026 people · home $162,200
- Orangeville, IL8.2 mi · 766 people · home $152,700
- Lake Summerset, IL8.3 mi · 2,342 people · home $237,300
- Freeport, IL8.8 mi · 23,973 people · home $92,100
- Pecatonica, IL10.2 mi · 2,090 people · home $143,900
- Durand, IL10.7 mi · 1,390 people · home $135,500
Dakota questions
Is Dakota, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dakota scores better for retirees than 71% of Illinois towns and quieter than 55%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.8).
How much does a house cost in Dakota?
The median owner-occupied home in Dakota is valued at $115,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,815, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $656 a month.
What is the weather like in Dakota?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 11.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.4 inches of precipitation a year and 34.5 inches of snow.
Does Dakota get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dakota since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 17, 2026. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)