Home Insurance in Dakota County, Minnesota
The median home value in Dakota County is $381,000, 16% higher than the Minnesota median.
The typical home in Dakota County was built around 1988. Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. About 11% of homes were built before 1960, about 18 points below Minnesota's 29%.
Housing in Dakota County breaks down to 76% single-family homes, 20% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 2% mobile or manufactured homes.
70% of owner-occupied homes in Dakota County carry a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require hazard insurance for as long as the loan is active.
Dakota County has an owner-occupancy rate of 75% and a vacancy rate of 3%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
79% of homes in Dakota County are primarily heated with natural gas.
The top hazards for Dakota County, per FEMA's National Risk Index, are strong wind (Very High), hail (Relatively High) and tornado (Relatively High).
Dakota County had 189 active National Flood Insurance Program policies as of September 2026. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
In Minnesota, the statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy is $1,988 per year (NAIC, 2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $381,000 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1988 |
| Owner-occupied share | 75% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 70% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Strong Wind (Very High), Hail (Relatively High), Tornado (Relatively High) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 189 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,988 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
- Apple Valley
- Burnsville
- Coates
- Eagan
- Farmington
- Hampton
- Hastings
- Inver Grove Heights
- Lilydale
- Mendota
- Mendota Heights
- Miesville
- New Trier
- Randolph
- Rosemount
- South St. Paul
- Sunfish Lake
- Vermillion
- West St. Paul
Smaller communities
-
Empire
- Median home value: $469,500
- Median year built: 1997
- Owner-occupied share: 94%
-
Lakeville
- Median home value: $452,500
- Median year built: 1999
- Owner-occupied share: 88%
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)