Dakota County, NE at a glance
Median household income
$70,329$5,861 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Dakota County, NE?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Dakota County, NE? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $796 | $9,552 | $31,840 | 13.6% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $925 | $11,100 | $37,000 | 15.8% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,154 | $13,848 | $46,160 | 19.7% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,386 | $16,632 | $55,440 | 23.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,528 | $18,336 | $61,120 | 26.1% |
What a typical income covers in Dakota County, NE
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $70,329 a year ($5,861 a month before tax).
What $70,329 leaves after Nebraska taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Nebraska tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Nebraska
Living in Dakota County, NE: common questions
What is the median household income in Dakota County, NE?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Dakota County, NE is $70,329 per year (approximately $5,861 per month).
What is the average rent in Dakota County, NE?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $796 for a studio, $925 for one bedroom, $1,154 for two, $1,386 for three and $1,528 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Dakota County, NE expensive to live in?
Prices there run 13.5% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 86.5, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Dakota County, NE?
To keep a $1,154 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $46,160 a year, or $3,847 a month. That is 66% of what the typical household in Dakota County, NE earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Dakota County, NE?
On the local median income of $70,329 ($5,861 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,930 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,758 for everything else and $1,172 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,154 takes 39% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Dakota County, NE?
Homes in Nebraska paid 13.3¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $119. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.