WindmillDexterMN2006-05-20, 2006
Dexter’s story
152 years in pictures
Census counts: 168 in 1880, 324 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1965 on.
- 1874Dexter is settled
DexterMN
A town of 329, settled in 1874.
Population
329
2025 Census estimate · +1.9% since 2020
Typical home
$290K
+3.8% in a year
Household income
$94K
median
Median age
40.4
years
Jobs based here
20
A commuter town
Is Dexter a good place to live?
13% of residents are under 18 in Dexter, below both Minnesota’s towns (23%) and U.S. towns (22%). Among 274 Minnesota towns, just 6 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Dexter. Dexter has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
329 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Dexter TownshipDexter
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Dexter: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Dexter, and how to reach them.
PowerFreeborn Mower Electric Cooperative15.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDexter water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Dexter’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Minnesota you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (received 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMower County Auditor TreasurerMower County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2024
ZIP code5592655926 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Dexter.
Work & commute
With only 0.1 jobs per working resident, most people in Dexter work out of town
For half of commuters, work is under 24 miles away. 15% of residents live below the poverty line in Dexter. The top destinations are Rochester (35%), Austin (16%) and Hayfield (6%).
0%work in town
| Dexter | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $94,000 | $90,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Dexter0%
Rochester35%
Austin16%
Hayfield6%
Dodge Center4%
24 mi
median commute distance
20
jobs based in Dexter
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers: that is Dexter’s year
July afternoons reach 80°, January nights drop to 6° and about 51 inches of snow falls in a winter.
51″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter10–25°
Spring34–54°
Summer58–78°
Fall37–57°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 6
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Housing
The typical home in Dexter: about $290K
Values rose 3.8% in the 12 months to September 2026. The going rate for rent for Dexter comes to $859 a month, below both the Minnesota town median ($1,196 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). The share of households in Dexter who are owner-occupiers: 67%.
$290KZillow home value
| Dexter | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $859 a month | $1,196 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 67% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Dexter$290K
Minnesota$349K
+3.8%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Health
How healthy Dexter is
12% of Dexter adults report frequent physical distress. Against the Minnesota average, Dexter comes out ahead on 1 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 2. Among adults in the town, 31% sleep under 7 hours and 18% binge drink.
| Dexter | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 30% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 18% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 25% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
1 better29 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Dexter | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.6% | 8.9% |
| More adults with arthritis | 25.8% | 22.3% |
Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester
23.6 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Dexter has a high natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
On expected storm and flood damage, Dexter sits above 60% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Dexter break down as 50% from inland flooding and 18% from drought. Federal disaster aid has reached households in Dexter after 3 declared disasters, most recently in 2024.
60risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingDroughtTornadoes
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dexter
17pages on Dexter
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Dexter
About 7 of every 100 Dexter residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Minnesota.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Dexter for work
Where Dexter’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
20jobs based in Dexter
0%of working residents work in town
24 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Dexter
City in Minnesota, United States
Dexter is a city in Mower County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 324 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,421 ft
- ZIP code
- 55926
Questions about Dexter
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dexter, MN a good place to live?
Dexter has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.