The Town FilesEureka, Minnesota
Township in Dakota County · population 1,373 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $480,400
- Household income
- $100,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 51.6
Eureka is a township of 1,373 people in Dakota County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $480,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for families than 94% of Minnesota towns, more of a college town than 78% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 71% of Minnesota towns.
How Eureka 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 Eureka is worth $480,400, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $100,000, which is more affordable than 6% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,643 a month. 93.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eureka | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $480,400 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,643 | $991 |
| Median household income | $100,000 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 93.1% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Eureka
| People | Eureka | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Eureka
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 Eureka since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 24, 2006 about 4.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 58 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 94 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 24, 2006.
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 Eureka itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Towns near Eureka
- Greenvale, MN4.3 mi · 796 people · home $494,900
- Farmington, MN5.8 mi · 23,632 people · home $366,200
- Elko New Market, MN5.9 mi · 4,846 people · home $433,100
- New Market, MN6.5 mi · 3,525 people · home $595,300
- Waterford, MN6.7 mi · 538 people · home $378,800
- Lakeville, MN6.7 mi · 69,490 people · home $452,500
- Castle Rock, MN6.9 mi · 1,350 people · home $458,000
- Webster, MN8.3 mi · 1,777 people · home $464,100
Eureka questions
Is Eureka, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eureka scores better for retirees than 45% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 61%. 27.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.6).
How much does a house cost in Eureka?
The median owner-occupied home in Eureka is valued at $480,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,000, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,643 a month.
What is the weather like in Eureka?
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 Eureka get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eureka since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 24, 2006. 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)