Signature · 4.9% SNAP (8th pct in MN)
Dakota County, MN
Dakota County sits in the upper national band on low-access (34.6%, +12.5 pts vs U.S.), with SNAP/vehicle context from ACS 2024.
- 34.6%
- low-access pop.
- 4
- food-desert tracts
- 4.9%
- on SNAP
- 446K
- residents (ACS 2024)
USDA FARA access plate
County Dakota County, MN
LA-ELEVATED · ABOVE-NATIONAL · LILA-POCKET · SNAP-LIGHT · VEH-OK · DENSITY-THIN
- LA-ELEVATED 34.6% low-access
- ABOVE-NATIONAL +12.5 pts vs US
- LILA-POCKET 4 food-desert tracts
- SNAP-LIGHT 4.9% SNAP
- VEH-OK 4.9% no vehicle
- DENSITY-THIN 4% tracts LILA
Nearest low-access peer: Becker County ( -0.1 pts)
Upper-band low-access
Dakota County sits in the upper national band (34.6%, #614 of 3,079) with 4 LILA tracts.
- #614
- national by low-access %
- #21
- in MN
- 54
- low-access tracts
- 19K
- food-desert residents
Upper-band counties often pair elevated low-access with clustered LILA tracts. Low access = >1 mile urban / >10 miles rural.
Signature read: 4.9% SNAP (8th pct in MN) (-7.2 pts vs U.S. SNAP) .
How Dakota County compares nationally
Relative to the 3,133 U.S. counties with USDA food-access data, Dakota County's 34.6% low-access share is elevated, higher than 80% of them and ranked #621 most-affected nationwide.
Dakota County's elevated USDA tier split
95 census tracts grouped by USDA classification · 4 LILA.
By USDA urbanicity classification, Dakota County has 90 urban and 5 rural census tracts. The 1-mile (urban) vs 10-mile (rural) distance threshold above applies per tract, so a county's access rate reflects this mix.
Dakota County vs nearby high low-access peers
Poles + nearest peers in Minnesota, not a full county-board reprint
- Red Lake
Red Lake 99.2%
99.2 % low-access
- Mahnomen 35.2
Mahnomen 35.2%
35.2 % low-access
- Dakota 34.6
Dakota 34.6%
34.6 % low-access
- Becker 34.5
Becker 34.5%
34.5 % low-access
- Aitkin 33.8
Aitkin 33.8%
33.8 % low-access
- Isanti 33.5
Isanti 33.5%
33.5 % low-access
- Fillmore 2.7
Fillmore 2.7%
2.7 % low-access
FARA 2019 · elevated low-access
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Census Tracts | 95 |
| Atlas Population (2010 basis) | 398,552 |
| Low-Access Tracts | 54 |
| Food-Desert Tracts (low-income & low-access) | 4 |
| Low-Access Population | 137,994 |
| Low-Access Share | 34.6%well above the national average |
| Low-Income & Low-Access Population | 18,555 |
ACS 2024 · lower SNAP band
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 445,771 |
| Median Household Income | $106,318 |
| Poverty Rate | 5.8%well below the national average |
| SNAP Households | 8,479 |
| SNAP Participation Rate | 4.9%well below the national average |
| Households Without a Vehicle | 4.9%well below the national average |
| Group-Quarters Population | 0.8% |
Thick SNAP store book in Dakota County
Dakota County has 240 stores currently authorized to accept SNAP (EBT) benefits, across 10 store categories. Convenience Store lead with 100 locations (42% of the total), followed by combination grocery/other.
Convenience Store · 100
- burnsville parkway bp, burnsville
- casey's 3825, inver grove heights
- cedar brook market, saint paul
- dana market, saint paul
- gm food & gas, inver grove heights
- holiday stationstore 2746213, burnsville
- holiday stationstore 2746264, saint paul
- hastings holiday 3563, hastings
- holiday #3825 3825, farmington
- holiday 3821, lakeville
- holiday 3839, burnsville
- holiday franchise store 3802, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746068, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746071, inver grove heights
- holiday stationstore 2746157, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746222, rosemount
- holiday stationstore 2746232, eagan
- holiday stationstore 2746247, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746316, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746318, eagan
- holiday stationstore 2746333, rosemount
- holiday stationstore 2746400, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746401, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746410, burnsville
- holiday stationstore 2746412, burnsville
- holiday stationstore 2746437, saint paul
- holiday stationstore 2746438, inver grove heights
- holiday stationstore 2746464, south saint paul
- holiday stationstore 3537, inver grove heights
- holiday stationstores 2653851, lakeville
- holiday stationstores 2746584, saint paul
- holiday stationstores 2746587, inver grove heights
- holiday stationstores 3552, lakeville
- holiday stationstores 3554, saint paul
- hy-vee fast and fresh 1356, lakeville
- hy-vee gas 5356, lakeville
- kwik trip 309, burnsville
- kwik trip 343, lakeville
- kwik trip 397, apple valley
- kwik trip 421, apple valley
- kwik trip 443, farmington
- kwik trip 662, saint paul
- kwik trip 692, lakeville
- kwik trip 693, farmington
- kwik trip 694, lakeville
- kwik trip 695, apple valley
- kwik trip 697, rosemount
- kismayo grocies, saint paul
- kwik trip 1757, rosemount
- kwik trip 178, south saint paul
- kwik trip 179, saint paul
- kwik trip 226, farmington
- kwik trip 249, hastings
- kwik trip 406, apple valley
- kwik trip 585, burnsville
- lakevill amoco 1, lakeville
- lucky's station 4, saint paul
- marathon, saint paul
- marathon gas, saint paul
- new mart, saint paul
- nicollet convenience store, burnsville
- pilot travel center 581, inver grove heights
- repair rite llc, saint paul
- sams mini mart, south saint paul
- south saint paul holiday #3860 3860, south saint paul
- speedway #4789, south saint paul
- speedway #4792 4792, inver grove heights
- speedway 4045, west saint paul
- speedway 4049, burnsville
- speedway 4169, lakeville
- speedway 4182, saint paul
- speedway 4189, lakeville
- speedway 4201, burnsville
- speedway 4211, burnsville
- speedway 4314, burnsville
- speedway 4335, saint paul
- speedway 4337, lakeville
- speedway 4342, saint paul
- speedway 4383, burnsville
- speedway 4411, inver grove heights
- speedway 4460, burnsville
- speedway 4486, hastings
- speedway 4490, lakeville
- speedway 4516, mendota heights
- speedway 4521, mendota heights
- speedway 4528, lakeville
- speedway 4534, farmington
- speedway 4539, hastings
- speedway 4548, inver grove heights
- speedway 4744, apple valley
- speedway 4768, lakeville
- speedway 4791, lakeville
- speedway 4796, saint paul
- speedway 5521, burnsville
- spice village llc, saint paul
- super gas usa 1, burnsville
- super usa, inver grove heights
- the corner store, inver grove heights
- twin cities auto repair & gas, burnsville
- us mobil, burnsville
Combination Grocery/Other · 41
- cvs 10252, hastings
- cvs 241, farmington
- cvs 3313, w st paul
- cvs 5308, lakeville
- cvs 5472, burnsville
- cvs 6715, eagan
- cvs pharmacy 663, apple valley
- dollartree 9733, lakeville
- dollar general 24255, northfield
- dollar tree 3046, saint paul
- dollar tree 3581, burnsville
- dollar tree 3997, hastings
- dollar tree 4260, eagan
- dollar tree 4487, lakeville
- dollar tree 5117, eagan
- dollar tree 5203, inver grove heights
- dollar tree 5614, rosemount
- dollar tree 5968, saint paul
- dollar tree 6964, burnsville
- dollar tree 7245, farmington
- dollar tree 7924, inver grove heights
- ebenezzer ethiopian market, burnsville
- habeshawi market, saint paul
- valley natural foods, burnsville
- von hanson's meats of rosemount, inc., rosemount
- walgreeens 02766, eagan
- walgreens 02496, burnsville
- walgreens 02661, apple valley
- walgreens 02805, saint paul
- walgreens 04038, rosemount
- walgreens 04882, inver grove heights
- walgreens 05048, hastings
- walgreens 05081, eagan
- walgreens 05634, lakeville
- walgreens 05685, burnsville
- walgreens 06943, inver grove heights
- walgreens 07728, lakeville
- walgreens 09727, apple valley
- walgreens 10641, eagan
- walgreens 11419, burnsville
- walgreens 11764, mendota heights
Super Store · 26
- bodega 42 freshmarket, saint paul
- coborn's 2037, hastings
- costco wholesale 1087, burnsville
- costco wholesale 1363, eagan
- fresh thyme market 502apv, apple valley
- hy-vee 1165, eagan
- hy-vee 1356, lakeville
- knowlans super market 09, south saint paul
- kowalskis eagan market 4436, eagan
- oxendales market, saint paul
- sam's club 4736, saint paul
- sam's club 4738, saint paul
- target 2519, inver grove heights
- target store 1484, lakeville
- target store 2046, saint paul
- target store 2340, burnsville
- target store 2390, apple valley
- target store 360, saint paul
- target store 643, apple valley
- walmart 1786, eagan
- walmart 5089, inver grove heights
- walmart 5977, burnsville
- walmart 5992, lakeville
- walmart supercenter 1472, hastings
- walmart supercenter 2642, apple valley
- walmart supercenter 3364, saint paul
Supermarket · 26
- aldi 63040 63040, burnsville
- aldi 72041, apple valley
- aldi 72042, burnsville
- aldi 72058, inver grove heights
- aldi 72107, lakeville
- aldi 75025 75025, rosemount
- aldi 72039, eagan
- aldi 78, inver grove heights
- cub 1597, lakeville
- cub 1695, eagan
- cub foods 1604, saint paul
- cub foods 1616, eagan
- cub foods 1631, burnsville
- cub foods 1635, hastings
- cub foods 1639, inver grove heights
- cub foods 1651, rosemount
- cub foods 1656, lakeville
- cub foods 1657, lakeville
- cub foods 1658, burnsville
- cub foods 4974, eagan
- cub foods wsp 5511, saint paul
- groceries of the orient, burnsville
- lunds & byerlys 1011, burnsville
- lunds & byerlys 1013, eagan
- lunds & byerlys 51022, saint paul
- trader joe's eagan 717, saint paul
Medium Grocery Store · 18
- abyssinia mart 2, apple valley
- apple valley halal market, saint paul
- cliff halal market inc, burnsville
- duffs meats 2, hastings
- el destino market, saint paul
- hidalgo market 1, burnsville
- hidalgo market bakery 3, saint paul
- jigjiga halal, burnsville
- minsk market, eagan
- mantra bazaar, apple valley
- metro foods, burnsville
- nicollet halal grocery inc, burnsville
- paradise market, burnsville
- spiral food coop, hastings
- saigon asian food market, burnsville
- super mercado la merced, south saint paul
- tawakal halal market llc, burnsville
- viet hoa lao, saint paul
Meat/Poultry Specialty · 9
- husnik meat co, south saint paul
- hometown meats, inver grove heights
- illetschkos meats and smokehouse, south saint paul
- jeffries chicken farm, inver grove heights
- long cheng livestock and meat market, south saint paul
- mike's butcher shop, saint paul
- von hanson's meats of burnsville, burnsville
- von hanson's meats of lakeville, lakeville
- von hansons meats, apple valley
Bakery Specialty · 8
- papa murphy's - apple valley mn023, saint paul
- papa murphy's - hastings mn056, hastings
- papa murphy's - lakeville mn088, lakeville
- papa murphy's - rosemount mn038, rosemount
- papa murphy's pizza mn082, saint paul
- papa murphy's take 'n' bake pizza mn072, burnsville
- papa murphys pizza mn44, saint paul
- papa murphys take n bake pizza, eagan
Small Grocery Store · 8
- abyssina ethiopian market & take out, llc, rosemount
- arada market llp, eagan
- burnsville halal grocery, burnsville
- five j's african market, apple valley
- hidalgo market 2, saint paul
- la paz market y mas, saint paul
- la paz market y mas 0, burnsville
- tippy's corner store, hastings
Large Grocery Store · 3
- halal groceries, burnsville
- mexatlan supermercado, south saint paul
- von hanson's meats of eagan, eagan
Farmers' Market · 1
- eagan market fest - city of eagan, saint paul
Source: USDA SNAP Retailer Locator (currently authorized stores, a live third population, not the 2019 Atlas or ACS 2024 snapshot above).
Other Counties in Minnesota
One of 86 counties in Minnesota, 6 are shown here.
Compare Dakota County vs Aitkin County → · All Minnesota counties →
Counties near Dakota County's elevated low-access or SNAP band
SNAP-led peer set first for Dakota County (4.9%), with low-access neighbours deduped against it, both outside Minnesota.
Similar low-access share
Nearest low-access rates outside MN (34.6% here).
- Mackinac County, MI · 34.6% low-access
- Mackinac County, MI · 34.6% low-access
- Morgan County, GA · 34.6% low-access
- Morgan County, GA · 34.6% low-access
Similar SNAP participation
Nearest household SNAP rates outside MN (4.9% here).
- Andrew County, MO · 4.9% SNAP
- Andrew County, MO · 4.9% SNAP
- Burlington County, NJ · 4.9% SNAP
- Burlington County, NJ · 4.9% SNAP
Source: USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) + Census ACS 2024 SNAP. Peers floor at 10,000 residents so stub counties cannot own the match.
Dakota County inside a higher low-access state context
Dakota County sits inside Minnesota (ringed). Each state is colored by population-weighted low-access; click any state to compare.
USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019), population-weighted · Census ACS 2024 context
Read with this county
Sources: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Access Research Atlas (2019) · U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 5-Year Estimates · methodology · compiled .
PlainFoodAccess renders this county profile directly from the USDA Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2024 5-year estimates), no number is typed in by an editor. Figures for Dakota County, MN are computed from the joined Atlas and ACS records for FIPS 27037. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-06-23. Primary sources: USDA Food Access Research Atlas and Census ACS 5-year estimates.
Note: This page presents public USDA and Census data for informational purposes and is not professional advice. Figures reflect the cited dataset vintages and may differ from the most recent local conditions. How this data is sourced & verified.