City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Dodge Center, MN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Dodge Center - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

2,864
Residents
$77,552
Median income
$175,900
Median home
$1,407
Median rent (state)

Dodge Center - the verdict

Dodge Center ranks in the 59th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

59th
percentile, household income
35th
percentile, home value
55th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Dodge Center, MN

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 2,864 residents in Dodge Center, a small town within Minnesota. The typical household in Dodge Center brings in $77,552 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.2%. Home values in Dodge Center run a median of $175,900, and the median resident age is 38.3 years. 15.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 74.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 14 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 26% from five years earlier.

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Minnesota at 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,407 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 14.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

2,864 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$77,552 /yr

Poverty 3.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota average

How does Dodge Center compare to other US cities?

Dodge Center measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 59% higher than other cities
Home value 35% pricier than other cities
Median rent 55% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Dodge Center's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Minnesota, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

59thIncome percentile

59th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Dodge Center's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$175,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 65% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Dodge Center $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Dodge Center, MN Dodge Center, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Dodge Center, MN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Dodge Center, MN median $77,552/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Dodge Center, MN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Dodge Center, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 74.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
2,864
Median Income
$77,552
Median Home Value
$175,900
Median Age
38.3
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Labor force participation
74.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.7%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,800 residents2,850 residents2,900 residents2,950 residents3,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,848 residents 2,951 residents ▲ +3.6%
Dodge Center's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
14
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
10
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 19
2020 4
2021 7
2022 58
2023 3
2024 14

Permit volume decreased 26% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.9%
Carpool
10.6%
Public Transit
1.3%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
5.9%
Other
1.3%

Based on 1,702 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Minnesota - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Minnesota state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Dodge Center sits in

Cost of Living Index
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,407/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
14.2 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Mountain Iron
2,865 people
Greenfield
2,897 people
Caledonia
2,825 people
Albany
2,800 people
Afton
2,944 people
Cokato
2,780 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Dodge Center's 2,864 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Eutaw, AL
2,864 people
Tazewell, TN
2,864 people
Clarksville, TX
2,864 people
Pearisburg, VA
2,864 people
Fayetteville, WV
2,864 people
Patillas zona urbana, PR
2,864 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Dodge Center's $77,552 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Charlestown, IN
$77,548 median income
Mohave Valley, AZ
$77,547 median income
New Baden, IL
$77,542 median income
Lapel, IN
$77,563 median income
Northlake, IL
$77,564 median income
Grundy Center, IA
$77,540 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Dodge Center, MN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Dodge Center, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.3% White 88.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.7% American Indian 1.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.8% Two or more races 2.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Dodge Center compares to nearby Minnesota cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Dodge Center (this city) 2,864 $77,552
Mountain Iron 2,865 $81,607
Greenfield 2,897 $147,184
Caledonia 2,825 $69,792
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Dodge Center, MN?

What is the population of Dodge Center, MN? +

Dodge Center, MN has a population of 2,864 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Dodge Center, MN? +

In Dodge Center, the typical household earns $77,552 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Dodge Center? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Dodge Center; the closest available measure is the Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Dodge Center, MN? +

Dodge Center's median home value sits at $175,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.