The Town FilesDakota City, Nebraska
City in Dakota County · population 2,081 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $177,800
- Household income
- $76,806
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 30.7
Dakota City is a city of 2,081 people in Dakota County, Nebraska. The median home is worth $177,800, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). It ranks easier by car than 92% of Nebraska towns, more vibrant than 87% of Nebraska towns, more of a college town than 72% of Nebraska towns.
How Dakota City ranks
Percentile among Nebraska towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Nebraska towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Dakota City is worth $177,800, above the typical Nebraska town ($154,800). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $76,806, which is more affordable than 46% of Nebraska towns. Median rent is $635 a month. 81.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dakota City | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $177,800 | $154,800 |
| Median rent | $635 | $818 |
| Median household income | $76,806 | $66,320 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 81.3% | 73.2% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1963 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Dakota City
| People | Dakota City | Typical Nebraska town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.7 | 39.5 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 20.8% |
| Under 18 | 27.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.0% | 22.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 15.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Average commute | 14.9 min | 19.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.1% | 87.8% |
Weather in Dakota City
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 30.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Nebraska town: 28.6 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dakota City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Nebraska town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 28, 1986 about 2.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 149 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on June 29, 2017.
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, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2025 | Winter Storm | DR-4868: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4822: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4521: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3483: Covid-19 |
| March 21, 2019 | Flood | DR-4420: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dakota County
Dakota County had 13,726 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,490 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Dakota City itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Dakota City
1 public school with 237 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAKOTA CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-5 | 237 | 11.9 |
Towns near Dakota City
- South Sioux City, NE3.1 mi · 14,043 people · home $174,700
- Sergeant Bluff, IA3.8 mi · 5,015 people · home $298,500
- Sioux City, IA5.6 mi · 85,797 people · home $173,600
- Dakota Dunes, SD5.9 mi · 4,020 people · home $565,600
- Homer, NE7.5 mi · 532 people · home $162,900
- North Sioux City, SD9.0 mi · 3,042 people · home $269,800
- Lawton, IA12.7 mi · 943 people · home $254,200
- Winnebago, NE12.7 mi · 916 people · home $66,600
Dakota City questions
Is Dakota City, Nebraska a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dakota City scores better for retirees than 1% of Nebraska towns and quieter than 12%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.7).
How much does a house cost in Dakota City?
The median owner-occupied home in Dakota City is valued at $177,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,806, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $635 a month.
What is the weather like in Dakota City?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Dakota City get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dakota City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 28, 1986. The typical Nebraska town has had 23.
- 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)