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CITY

Dakota

Illinois · 480 residents (2025 est.) · 0.249 sq mi
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The short version

Dakota has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $55,815. Population has grown 29% since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value is $115,600. At a median age of 32.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 33% less than the Illinois median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 19%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
645
+29%since 2000
from 499 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,590 / sq mi
+29%since 2000
from 2,004 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.8
−13%since 2000
from 37.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:480 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4765426086737391990201020202024Dakota
2024645
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$55,815
−30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,942 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,156
+31%since 2000
from $18,440 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
36.7%
+16.8 ptssince 2009
from 19.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
14.5%
+10.6 ptssince 2000
from 3.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.413
+28%since 2010
from 0.322 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information27.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade18.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade2.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services2.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$115,600
−19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,800 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$656
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $398 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
57.6%
−19.5 ptssince 2000
from 77.2% in 2000
42.4% rent
Vacancy rate
10.9%
+7.0 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
12.9%
−12.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
23.7%
+9.2 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.1
+15%since 2000
from 1.8 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
50
RELATED:See current rent listings in Dakota on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98%(489)
Black0.8%(4)
Hispanic / Latino0.4%(2)
Asian0.4%(2)
Other0%
Diversity Score4%(20)
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.7%(572)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino3.6%(23)
Asian0.8%(5)
Other7%(45)
Diversity Score25.9%(167)
Diversity Score
26
+551%since 2000
from 4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.5%
+13.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2000
from 87.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
12.9%
+11.6 ptssince 2000
from 1.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.0 min
+82%since 2000
from 13.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
63.9%
−11.1 ptssince 2009
from 75.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.5%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
9.1%
+9.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
11.3%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
0.7%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−3.4 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
13.1%
+9.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−16.9 ptssince 2011
from 20.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
57.9%
−14.2 ptssince 2011
from 72.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.0%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 19.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
25.3%
−28.6 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
54.6%
+5.5 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
45.4%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
2.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.0%
−45.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 8.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.7%
−80.4 ptssince 2013
from 84.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
79.0%
+3.2 ptssince 2017
from 75.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 98.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2016
from 0.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Dakota to nearby cities

DAKOTA VS
Freeport
Income$51,723−7%
Home value$92,100−20%
Population23,202+4734%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DAKOTA VS
Monroe
Income$69,334+24%
Home value$195,300+69%
Population10,581+2104%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DAKOTA VS
Rockford
Income$54,752−2%
Home value$129,000+12%
Population147,384+30605%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
DAKOTA VS
Machesney Park
Income$75,489+35%
Home value$173,700+50%
Population22,805+4651%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Dakota, Illinois?

Dakota, Illinois has about 645 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Dakota, Illinois?

The typical household in Dakota, Illinois earns about $55,815 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Dakota, Illinois expensive?

In Dakota, Illinois, the median home is worth about $115,600, and the typical rent is about $656 a month.

How educated are people in Dakota, Illinois?

About 20.5% of adults age 25 and over in Dakota, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Dakota, Illinois?

About 14.5% of people in Dakota, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.

Has Dakota, Illinois grown since 1990?

Yes, Dakota, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 96 residents, a change of about 17 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Dakota, Illinois: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy