The Town FilesWaterford, Minnesota
Township in Dakota County · population 538 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $378,800
- Household income
- $86,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 41.4
Waterford is a township of 538 people in Dakota County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $378,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Minnesota towns, more upscale than 92% of Minnesota towns, better transit than 85% of Minnesota towns.
How Waterford 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 Waterford is worth $378,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $86,250, which is more affordable than 12% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,472 a month. 88.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Waterford | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $378,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,472 | $991 |
| Median household income | $86,250 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 88.2% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Waterford
| People | Waterford | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.7% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 90.2% |
Weather in Waterford
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 41.8 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
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterford since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 24, 2006 about 9.5 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 34 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 13, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 76 times; the largest was 3.30 inches on April 13, 2026.
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 Waterford itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Towns near Waterford
- Northfield, MN4.5 mi · 20,790 people · home $329,400
- Greenvale, MN4.8 mi · 796 people · home $494,900
- Castle Rock, MN5.6 mi · 1,350 people · home $458,000
- Northfield, MN6.6 mi · 857 people · home $461,100
- Eureka, MN6.7 mi · 1,373 people · home $480,400
- Dundas, MN7.0 mi · 1,712 people · home $325,800
- Stanton, MN7.1 mi · 1,140 people · home $413,400
- Randolph, MN7.7 mi · 760 people · home $561,600
Waterford questions
Is Waterford, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Waterford scores better for retirees than 95% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 47%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Waterford?
The median owner-occupied home in Waterford is valued at $378,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,250, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,472 a month.
What is the weather like in Waterford?
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 41.8 inches of snow.
Does Waterford get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waterford 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)