At a Glance
Median Income
$70,286
$37,217 per capita
Home Value
$118,800
Zillow: $183,426
Median Rent
$618/mo
23.8% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
19.2%
93.5% high school+
Unemployment
3.3%
0.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
34.3%
14.5% smoking rate
How Dawson Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Dawson's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Dawson a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.9 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Dawson residents earn a median household income of $70,286 , which is 6% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $37,217. The unemployment rate stands at 3.3% (8% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 0.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 246 business establishments, including 15 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Dawson is $118,800 , 58% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $183,426. Median rent is $618/month, with 23.8% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 98.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1955.
Education
19.2% of adults in Dawson hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(43% below the national average).
93.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.2/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Dawson has an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C).
Winters average 12°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 24.6 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,441
Median Age44.4 yrs
Density1,001/mi²
Male / Female52% / 48%
Foreign Born5.6%
Veterans8.4%
Economy
A
Median Income$70,286
Per Capita$37,217
Unemployment3.3%
Poverty0.9%
County GDP$435M
Avg Weekly Wage$918
Housing
A+
Home Value$118,800
Rent$618
Ownership79.9%
Zillow$183,426
Housing Units660
Rent Burden23.8%
Health
Obesity34.3%
Diabetes8.4%
Smoking14.5%
Heart Disease5.0%
Premature Death6,964/100K
Climate
Avg Temp44°F
Rain24.6 in/yr
Elevation1,042 ft
Education
C+
Bachelor's+19.2%
High School+93.5%
Graduate+5.5%
School Score6.2/10
Community
2024 VoteR 65% / D 33%
Commute14 min
Broadband81.0%
Internet Speed106 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries2
Did You Know?
The median home in Dawson was built in 1955.
The nearest airport is Southwest Minnesota Regional Marshall/Ryan Field (35 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.444 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
17.3% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 106 Mbps.