COUNTY REPORT MN

Dakota County, Minnesota

21 ZIP codes · Avg score 63/100 · Grade C · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Dakota County: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Water safety in Dakota County is uneven - some of its 21 ZIP codes meet standards cleanly while others carry documented violations.

How Dakota County Compares

Dakota County63/100
Minnesota avg68/100
National avg73/100

How Dakota County Compares

C
County Grade
63/100
Avg Safety Score
21
ZIP Codes
17
Water Systems

Dakota County scores 5 points below the Minnesota state average (68/100) and 10 points below the national average (73/100).

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:

C
County Grade
63
Avg Safety Score
21
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 55024 (67/100)
Lowest ZIP: 55075 (47/100)
$347K
Median Home Value
$2,567
Avg Remediation (74% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Dakota County, Minnesota

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 11.2 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 9.7%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,123, driven primarily by flood

52.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

↑ Worsening trend

EPA violation counts by year across Dakota County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
1 (1 health)
2023
10 (10 health)
2024
32 (32 health)
2025
65 (65 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 65 violations. Past 5 years: 108 total (108 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window - worth closer monitoring.

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 9.7% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 34.5% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1982
Median Build Year
52.8%
Pre-1978 Housing
40/100
Infrastructure Stress Indicator
45%
ZIPs with High Infrastructure Stress
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,123

Flood $550/yr
Energy Code Gap $356/yr
Water Infrastructure $165/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

176,190 housing units in Dakota County

Pre-1940 4%
1940–1959 7%
1960–1979 25%
1980–1999 40%
2000+ 24%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Dakota County

$347K
Median Home Value
$2,567
Est. Remediation Cost
0.7%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Dakota County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Dakota County residents

Asthma 9.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 9.7% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 34.5% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water systems serving Dakota County

8 community water systems serving Dakota County.

Show all 8 water systems

17 total water systems serve Dakota County.

Systems with the most violations in Dakota County

5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Dakota County

21 ZIP codes tracked in Dakota County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 55024 Farmington 67 C 0 $351K
2 55122 Saint Paul 67 C 0 $343K
3 55123 Saint Paul 67 C 0 $442K
4 55124 Saint Paul 67 C 0 $354K
5 55337 Burnsville 67 C 0 $328K
6 55044 Lakeville 66 C 1 $465K
7 55068 Rosemount 66 C 2 (1 health) $380K
8 55077 Inver Grove Heights 64 C 26 (19 health) $497K
9 55033 Hastings 49 D 1 (1 health) $336K
10 55075 South Saint Paul 47 D 26 (19 health) $267K
11 55010 Castle Rock
12 55031 Hampton $393K
13 55065 Randolph $372K
14 55076 Inver Grove Heights 36 (35 health) $309K
15 55085 Vermillion $291K
16 55118 Saint Paul 26 (19 health) $332K
17 55120 Saint Paul 8 (1 health) $485K
18 55121 Saint Paul 0 $300K
19 55150 Mendota 8 (1 health) $330K
20 55306 Burnsville 0 $366K
21 56514 Barnesville 0 $234K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Dakota County

Methodologically, the recommendation order reflects severity in the federal record: contaminants flagged in EPA detection records for this county outrank generic water concerns, FEMA-confirmed hazard ratings shift emergency-related categories upward, and CDC lead-exposure markers govern when lead-test kits and certified filters appear at the top of the list.

Overview

Dakota County in Minnesota covers 21 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (63/100) across 10 scored records.

9 of 17 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 38 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

← Back to Minnesota Home Safety Profile

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Dakota County?
Dakota County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Dakota County?
Dakota County is served by 17 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 21 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Dakota County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Dakota County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,123 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Dakota County?
The median home build year in Dakota County is 1982. 52.8% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Dakota County compare to Minnesota?
Dakota County has an average Home Safety Score of 63/100 under model 4.0.0, which is below the Minnesota state average of 68/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Dakota County, MN: HSS 63/100; 38 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/county/minnesota/dakota/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-minnesota-dakota,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Dakota County, MN: HSS 63/100; 38 Health Violations}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/minnesota/dakota/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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