The Town FilesDodge Center, Minnesota
City in Dodge County · population 2,844 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,600
- Household income
- $93,884
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 38.1
Dodge Center is a city of 2,844 people in Dodge County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $197,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 80% of Minnesota towns.
How Dodge Center 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 Dodge Center is worth $197,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $93,884, which is more affordable than 92% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,012 a month. 81.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dodge Center | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,012 | $991 |
| Median household income | $93,884 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 81.4% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.6% | — |
Who lives in Dodge Center
| People | Dodge Center | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.1 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Dodge Center
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 3.5°F. About 36.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.1 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dodge Center since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 13, 2010 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 20, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Dodge County since 1996
Dodge County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| October 13, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1941: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dodge County
Dodge County had 5,967 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,269 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Dodge Center itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Dodge Center
4 public schools with 909 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRITON ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 390 | 11.1 |
| TRITON HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 307 | 14.0 |
| TRITON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-8 | 212 | 12.5 |
| Triton ALP | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Dodge Center
- Kasson, MN5.2 mi · 6,851 people · home $285,200
- Byron, MN10.5 mi · 6,312 people · home $345,300
- Pine Island, MN16.2 mi · 3,769 people · home $350,500
- Rochester, MN18.6 mi · 121,395 people · home $310,500
- Owatonna, MN19.3 mi · 26,420 people · home $245,200
- Cascade, MN19.8 mi · 2,837 people · home $506,800
- Zumbrota, MN20.5 mi · 3,726 people · home $249,300
- Stewartville, MN21.4 mi · 6,687 people · home $265,300
Dodge Center questions
Is Dodge Center, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dodge Center scores better for retirees than 8% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 38%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.1).
How much does a house cost in Dodge Center?
The median owner-occupied home in Dodge Center is valued at $197,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,884, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $1,012 a month.
What is the weather like in Dodge Center?
July highs average 81.2°F and January lows 3.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.0 inches of precipitation a year and 47.1 inches of snow.
Does Dodge Center get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dodge Center since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 13, 2010. 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)