The Town FilesCastle Rock, Minnesota
Township in Dakota County · population 1,350 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $458,000
- Household income
- $132,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 35.7
Castle Rock is a township of 1,350 people in Dakota County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $458,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more of a college town than 78% of Minnesota towns, better for young professionals than 74% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 73% of Minnesota towns.
How Castle Rock 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 Castle Rock is worth $458,000, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $132,917, which is more affordable than 50% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,107 a month. 94.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Castle Rock | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $458,000 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,107 | $991 |
| Median household income | $132,917 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 94.9% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Castle Rock
| People | Castle Rock | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.2% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.2% | — |
| Work from home | 22.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 90.2% |
Weather in Castle Rock
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.8°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.0 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Castle Rock since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 27, 1987 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 19, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 17, 2021.
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 Castle Rock itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Towns near Castle Rock
- Hampton, MN3.9 mi · 744 people · home $318,300
- Hampton, MN5.3 mi · 832 people · home $504,800
- Waterford, MN5.6 mi · 538 people · home $378,800
- Vermillion, MN5.9 mi · 1,290 people · home $438,500
- Randolph, MN6.3 mi · 760 people · home $561,600
- Farmington, MN6.9 mi · 23,632 people · home $366,200
- Eureka, MN6.9 mi · 1,373 people · home $480,400
- Stanton, MN8.0 mi · 1,140 people · home $413,400
Castle Rock questions
Is Castle Rock, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Castle Rock scores better for retirees than 29% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 30%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Castle Rock?
The median owner-occupied home in Castle Rock is valued at $458,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $132,917, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,107 a month.
What is the weather like in Castle Rock?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 7.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 41.0 inches of snow.
Does Castle Rock get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Castle Rock since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 27, 1987. 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)