Dakota City is a small town of 2,857 in Nebraska, with a median household income of $73,417
and a 4.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is
12% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dakota City stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dakota City is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dakota City city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 88.1
Dakota City's overall cost of living index is 88.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dakota City costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dakota City, NE
National Avg
Median Home Value
$143,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,080
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$73,417
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Dakota City's violent crime rate is 194.7 per 100,000 residents
— 49% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
194.7 /100k
Property Crime
2192.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dakota City is served primarily by SO SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHS.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dakota City, NE
National Avg
School District
SO SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHS
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
78.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dakota City sees average highs of 29.7°F in January
and 85.7°F in July,
with 30.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.0 inches of snow per year.
Dakota City's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dakota City roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $143,800 and median rent is $1,080/month.
Dakota City's violent crime rate is 194.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2192.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dakota City are operated by SO SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHS.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.5:1. 11.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dakota City, NE has a population of 2,857, a median household income of $73,417, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Dakota City averages 29.7°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.3 inches
with about 36.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dakota City, NE is covered by 1 ZIP code: 68731.
The population of Dakota City, Nebraska is 2,857 with a median age of 28.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dakota City: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $143,800, median household income $73,417, crime index 72 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dakota City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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