City · Minnesota

Dodge Center, Minnesota

Dodge Center, city, in Dodge County, Minnesota. Dodge Center had 2,951 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 2,844 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,880 (±18). GEOID 2715994.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,951

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 2,844 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,880 ±18

Median household income

$93,884

±$13,917 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$197,600

±$27,059 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$1,012

±$97 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

Where is Dodge Center and what county is it in?

Dodge Center is a city in Dodge County, Minnesota. It covers 2.4 square miles of land, 1,179 residents per square mile in 2020.

Dodge Center is in the Rochester, MN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Dodge Center (marked with a dot) in Dodge County, Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Dodge Center, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,951 people lived in Dodge Center on July 1, 2025, up 3.9% since 2020, faster than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 2,844 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,880 (±18).

  • July 2020→2021 −8 (2,840)
  • 2021→2022 −4 (2,836)
  • 2022→2023 +96 (2,932)
  • 2023→2024 +12 (2,944)
  • 2024→2025 +7 (2,951)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure Dodge CenterDodge CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Total population 2,880 ±18 21,045 5,739,445 +143
Households 1,153 ±82 8,083 2,307,955 no clear change
Average household size 2.46 ±0.17 2.58 2.43 no clear change
Housing units 1,209 ±90 8,484 2,545,030 no clear change

Dodge Center's population since 2000

From 2,226 in 2000 to 2,951 in 2025: up 32.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Dodge Center as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 2,226
  • 2005 (estimate) 2,521
  • 2010 Census 2,670
  • 2015 (estimate) 2,711
  • 2020 Census 2,844
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,951

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Dodge Center?

The median resident of Dodge Center is 38.1 years old; 21.1% are under 18 and 14.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.5%. 3.2% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure Dodge CenterDodge CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median age 38.1 ±2.1 38.7 38.8 no clear change
Under 18 years 21.1% ±2.9 pts 25.1% 22.9% –
65 years and over 14.5% ±2.3 pts 15.9% 17.3% –
Male 51.3% ±2.8 pts 50.9% 50.1% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.5% ±3.3 pts 5.4% 6.4% no clear change
White alone, not Hispanic 88.1% ±4.1 pts 89.4% 75.9% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.8 pts 1.1% 6.9% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 1.6% ±1.4 pts 0.5% 5.1% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.5% ±0.5 pts 0.1% 0.7% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.8 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 1.4% ±1.6 pts 3.0% 4.5% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±0.8 pts 0.5% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 3.2% ±1.7 pts 2.9% 8.7% −4.1 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 11.5% ±5.6 pts 6.1% 12.4% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 6.2% ±2.2 pts 6.2% 5.9% –
With a disability 10.4% ±3.5 pts 11.2% 11.6% –
No health insurance coverage 5.1% ±2.6 pts 5.5% 4.7% no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 96.7% ±1.8 pts 95.4% 93.9% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 16.7% ±4.1 pts 30.2% 39.4% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 6.4% ±2.3 pts 8.8% 13.8% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 90.5% ±3.6 pts 92.3% 87.8% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.3% ±0.9 pts 0.8% 1.8% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Dodge Center earn?

Half of Dodge Center's 1,153 households earn less than $93,884 a year (±$13,917), against $95,739 in Dodge County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 the median was $71,601 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $22,283 after inflation. 3.7% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure Dodge CenterDodge CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $93,884 ±$13,917 $95,739 $89,062 +$22,283
Mean household income $110,940 ±$11,078 $111,773 $118,304 –
Per capita income $45,997 ±$4,124 $43,583 $48,237 +$12,436
People below the poverty line 3.7% ±1.7 pts 7.0% 9.3% −6.4 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line 1.9% ±2.6 pts 8.8% 10.3% –
Households receiving SNAP 3.7% ±2.1 pts 6.1% 7.9% –
Households with a computer 94.2% ±3.8 pts 94.8% 95.8% –
Households with a broadband subscription 92.1% ±3.9 pts 90.7% 91.6% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Dodge Center?

Owners occupy 81.4% of Dodge Center's occupied homes and renters 18.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $197,600 by its owner (±$27,059). The median renter pays $1,012 a month including utilities, and 12.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure Dodge CenterDodge CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $197,600 ±$27,059 $287,700 $329,300 no clear change
Median gross rent $1,012 ±$97 $1,020 $1,280 +$196
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 12.3% ±7.6 pts 34.3% 38.4% −19.3 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,552 ±$114 $1,871 $1,947 –
Owner-occupied homes 81.4% ±5.7 pts 86.6% 72.2% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 18.6% ±5.7 pts 13.4% 27.8% –
Housing units 1,209 ±90 8,484 2,545,030 no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±2.3 pts 0.1% 0.6% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±9.9 pts 2.3% 5.3% –
Single-family detached homes 76.3% ±5.8 pts 83.8% 66.0% –
Mobile homes 5.3% ±3.1 pts 5.1% 2.9% –
Built 2020 or later 0.6% ±0.8 pts 1.3% 1.9% –
Built 2010 to 2019 12.4% ±4.7 pts 7.8% 8.5% –
Built 1939 or earlier 18.3% ±5.2 pts 21.4% 15.6% –
Households with no vehicle 2.1% ±2.2 pts 3.8% 6.7% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Dodge Center building?

Builders took permits for 9 new housing units in Dodge Center in 2025 (9 in single-family houses), 3.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Minnesota.

  • 2019 19 units
  • 2020 4 units
  • 2021 7 units
  • 2022 58 units
  • 2023 3 units
  • 2024 (2 months) 14 units
  • 2025 9 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Dodge Center work and get to work?

80.7% of Dodge Center's workers drive alone and 6.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.3%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure Dodge CenterDodge CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 75.6% ±4.5 pts 70.5% 68.1% –
Unemployment rate 2.3% ±1.3 pts 3.3% 4.1% no clear change
Drove alone to work 80.7% ±5.0 pts 74.7% 68.9% –
Carpooled 9.7% ±4.0 pts 8.7% 7.5% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±1.3 pts 0.7% 1.8% –
Walked 2.4% ±1.5 pts 1.9% 2.5% –
Worked from home 6.6% ±2.9 pts 12.9% 17.6% no clear change
Mean travel time to work 25.8 min ±3.4 25.9 min 22.7 min +5.5 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Dodge Center?

No census tract lies mostly in Dodge Center; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Dodge Center, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Dodge Center
Tract 9502Dodge County4,195 $99,719 $237,80039%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Dodge Center) · Census block assignment files

How does Dodge Center compare with other places in Minnesota?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Dodge Center is the 6,395th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 217th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.

Dodge Center ranks 247th of 558 places in Minnesota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Dodge Center's rank in Minnesota (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate217th855
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)152nd556
Residents per square mile167th562
Median household income247th558
Per capita income230th562
Median home value450th559
Median gross rent265th465
Poverty rate400th461
Bachelor's degree or higher522nd559
Median age413th561
Owner-occupied share308th561
Work from home449th525
Travel time to work201st562

Dodge Center's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)

Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Dodge Center with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Dodge Center?

13 of the 57 figures for Dodge Center on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Dodge Center are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Dodge Center.