The Town FilesApple Valley, Minnesota
City in Dakota County · population 56,374 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $370,400
- Household income
- $97,673
- Jan low / Jul high
- 3° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 39.0
Apple Valley is a city of 56,374 people in Dakota County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $370,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Minnesota towns, more walkable than 93% of Minnesota towns.
How Apple Valley ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Apple Valley is worth $370,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $97,673, which is more affordable than 30% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,738 a month. 73.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Apple Valley | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $370,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,738 | $991 |
| Median household income | $97,673 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 73.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Apple Valley
| People | Apple Valley | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.7% | — |
| Work from home | 22.4% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 90.2% |
Weather in Apple Valley
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 3.3°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Apple Valley since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 14, 1981 about 6.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 7 deaths and 144 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 176 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 8, 1966.
Severe weather in Dakota County since 1996
Dakota County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 19, 2010 | Flood | EM-3310: Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Dakota County
Dakota County had 189,387 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,792 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Apple Valley itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Apple Valley
20 public schools with 13,085 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| EASTVIEW SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 2,312 | 20.3 |
| APPLE VALLEY SENIOR HIGH | 9-12 | 1,919 | 17.0 |
| SCOTT HIGHLANDS MIDDLE | 6-8 | 1,207 | 17.5 |
| Valley Middle School of STEM | 6-8 | 1,060 | 15.6 |
| FALCON RIDGE MIDDLE | 6-8 | 987 | 16.5 |
| GREENLEAF ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 759 | 11.9 |
| Cedar Park Elementary STEM School | K-5 | 725 | 12.9 |
| HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 678 | 14.1 |
| DIAMOND PATH EL SCH OF INTL STUDIES | K-5 | 676 | 14.4 |
| SOUTHVIEW ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 573 | 12.2 |
| Dakota Valley Learning Center | PK-PK | 564 | 23.5 |
| WESTVIEW ELEMENTARY | K-5 | 498 | 12.1 |
Towns near Apple Valley
- Burnsville, MN4.1 mi · 64,317 people · home $355,200
- Eagan, MN5.2 mi · 68,855 people · home $397,100
- Lakeville, MN5.4 mi · 69,490 people · home $452,500
- Farmington, MN6.1 mi · 23,632 people · home $366,200
- Rosemount, MN6.4 mi · 25,650 people · home $424,100
- Bloomington, MN8.1 mi · 89,987 people · home $361,700
- Savage, MN8.1 mi · 32,465 people · home $432,300
- Inver Grove Heights, MN9.0 mi · 35,801 people · home $363,400
Apple Valley questions
Is Apple Valley, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Apple Valley scores better for retirees than 10% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 2%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Apple Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Apple Valley is valued at $370,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,673, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,738 a month.
What is the weather like in Apple Valley?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 3.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 41.0 inches of snow.
Does Apple Valley get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Apple Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 14, 1981. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)