The Town FilesDakota City, Iowa
City in Humboldt County · population 759 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $119,800
- Household income
- $60,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 42.7
Dakota City is a city of 759 people in Humboldt County, Iowa. The median home is worth $119,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more walkable than 86% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 82% of Iowa towns, more vibrant than 76% of Iowa towns.
How Dakota City ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dakota City is worth $119,800, below the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $60,417, which is more affordable than 71% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $965 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dakota City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $119,800 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $965 | $820 |
| Median household income | $60,417 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Dakota City
| People | Dakota City | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.6% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.8% | — |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 88.5% |
Weather in Dakota City
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 8.0°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.0 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 17 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 155 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dakota City since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 7, 1953 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 65 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 16, 2014.
Severe weather in Humboldt County since 1996
Humboldt County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4796: Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 23, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4642: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Humboldt County
Humboldt County had 3,810 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,721 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Dakota City itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Public schools in Dakota City
1 public school with 142 students, about 23.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clyde D Mease Elementary School | PK-K | 142 | 23.7 |
Towns near Dakota City
- Humboldt, IA1.4 mi · 4,792 people · home $173,600
- Badger, IA8.0 mi · 522 people · home $142,800
- Goldfield, IA14.2 mi · 634 people · home $108,000
- Fort Dodge, IA14.8 mi · 24,871 people · home $144,100
- Eagle Grove, IA15.5 mi · 3,601 people · home $104,600
- Rolfe, IA18.1 mi · 509 people · home $48,500
- Coalville, IA20.0 mi · 651 people · home $197,500
- West Bend, IA20.6 mi · 791 people · home $159,700
Dakota City questions
Is Dakota City, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dakota City scores better for retirees than 2% of Iowa towns and quieter than 27%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Dakota City?
The median owner-occupied home in Dakota City is valued at $119,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,417, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $965 a month.
What is the weather like in Dakota City?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 8.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 38.0 inches of snow.
Does Dakota City get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dakota City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 7, 1953. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- 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)