Dodge Center, Minnesota 5, 2010
Dodge Center’s story
133 years in pictures
Census counts: 726 in 1880, 2,844 in 2020. The archive holds 13 old photos and papers going back to 2010 and 2 maps from 1965 on.
- 1893Dodge Center is settled
Dodge CenterMN
A town of 2,951, settled in 1893.
Population
2,951
2025 Census estimate · +3.9% since 2020
Typical home
$296K
+4.9% in a year
Household income
$94K
median
Median age
38.1
years
Jobs based here
1,771
Balanced
TownGrade
A+
#8 of 271 in MN
Why does Dodge Center grade so well?
Few places in the country grade higher. Dodge Center earns an A+, ranked 8th of 271 in Minnesota. Homes are within reach, about $296K for a typical one, or 3.2 years of the Rochester metro’s $92K median household income, the median household earns $94K, and it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 76% of U.S. towns. Its lowest mark, a B, is in schools. 17% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in Dodge Center, below both Minnesota’s towns (34%) and U.S. towns (29%).
What makes Dodge Center stand out
Where Dodge Center beats most towns.
Typical home value
Dodge Center$296K
Minnesota$349K
Cost of livingA
More affordable than 93% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
2.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
How Dodge Center grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Minnesota), ordered by how far Dodge Center is from typical.
Cost of livingAOpen →Jobs & income1,771 jobs based hereA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.8 of 20; 2.1% of households have no carA−Open →HealthMayo Clinic Hospital Rochester 18.4 miles awayB+Open →SchoolsBOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 37% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 2% conserved landB+Open →History3 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life4.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Dodge Center: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Dodge Center, and how to reach them.
PowerXcel Energy17.1¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterDodge Center water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet11 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Dodge Center’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 hereDodge County ElectionsDodge County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code5592755927 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 Dodge Center.
Dodge Center pairs an A+ overall with homes cheaper than the Minnesota norm and is healthy by national standards but mid-pack in Minnesota.
OutdoorsB+
Conserved land covers 2.1% of Dodge Center
2.2 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. Dodge Center’s trail density is 0.9 miles per square mile.
#59for trails in MN
| Dodge Center | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.9 miles per square mile | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.1% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
2.1%
conserved · 33 of 1,531 acres
2.2 mi
of trails · 0.9 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. North Park | 0.1 mi | 19 |
| 2. Dodge Center Creek Park | — | 8 |
| 3. West Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB
On state tests, Dodge Center’s schools beat 62% of Minnesota districts
Its public schools are run by the Triton School District. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
62%of MN districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triton ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 384 | C+ |
| Triton High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 283 | C |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MN on state tests and graduation
HealthB+
Dodge Center is healthier than 72% of U.S. towns
Within Minnesota it is less healthy than 55% of the 271 graded towns: Minnesota sets a high bar.
Dodge Center beats the Minnesota average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 20% of Dodge Center adults binge drink.
72%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Dodge Center | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 75% | 79% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 30% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Minnesota
1 better31 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Dodge Center | MN |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 7.6% | 8.5% |
Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester
18.4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
45th
percentile among MN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Dodge Center has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Dodge Center has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Dodge Center is 81°F.
44″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter9–26°
Spring34–54°
Summer58–79°
Fall37–57°
Sep 28
typical first frost
May 12
typical last frost
+1.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
About one in three of Dodge Center’s working residents commute to Rochester
Most working residents leave Dodge Center for work: only 18% work in town. 3.7% of residents live below the poverty line in Dodge Center. The top destinations are Rochester (33%), Kasson (5%) and Owatonna (4%).
18%work in town
| Dodge Center | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 6.6% | 14% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 18% | 9.7% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Dodge Center18%
Rochester33%
Kasson5%
Owatonna4%
Ashland Township3%
19 mi
median commute distance
1,771
jobs based in Dodge Center
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 76% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade A
For cost of living, Dodge Center earns an A
Dodge Center grades A+ overall with a typical home of about $296K, below the Minnesota typical value; only 39 of the 123 Minnesota towns graded A− or better can say that.
Typical home values rose 4.9% in the year to September 2026.
$296KZillow home value
| Dodge Center | Minnesota towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 81% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,012 a month | $1,199 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Dodge Center$296K
Minnesota$349K
+4.9%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Inland flooding leads a low hazard risk in Dodge Center
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 63% of U.S. communities. Since 1983, 9 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Dodge Center.
37risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
9
paid flood claims since 1983
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Nearby attractions
All 13 attractions →Spam Museum and 5 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Dodge Center. Close and well known come first.
26 mi MuseumSpam Museum
20 mi MuseumMinnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children11 mi Zoo & aquariumOxbow Park and Zollman Zoo
20 mi MuseumRochester Art Center
24 mi MuseumJay C. Hormel Nature Center
33 mi MuseumWaseca County Historical Society MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Spam Museum: Darb02, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Rochester Art Center: Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2 · Jay C. Hormel Nature Center: Julie Champlin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Waseca County Historical Society Museum: Jonathunder, GFDL 1.2
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Dodge Center
19pages on Dodge Center
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Dodge Center; the nearest are
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and ScienceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Rochester19.2 mi$3,257 tuitionUniversity of Minnesota-RochesterUniversity or college · Public · Rochester19.3 mi$15,016 in-state tuitionRochester Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Rochester21.3 mi$6,389 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Dodge Center residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Minnesota.
Famous people from Dodge Center
3 notable people were born in Dodge Center.
About Dodge Center
City in Minnesota, United States
Dodge Center is a city in Dodge County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 2,844.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.1 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,293 ft
- ZIP code
- 55927
- Area code
- 507
Dodge Center’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Dodge Center.
Wasioja TownshipAshland TownshipDodge Center
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MN rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Center | #8 | A+ | A | — | B | B+ |
| Wasioja Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ashland Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Dodge Center reports no FBI crime data of its own. Wasioja Township and Ashland Township aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Dodge Center with a neighbor →
Questions about Dodge Center
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Dodge Center, MN a good place to live?
Yes, by almost any measure. Dodge Center grades A+ overall, among the top 2% of U.S. towns and #8 of 271 in Minnesota. It grades B+ for health and B for schools.
Is Dodge Center, MN expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
What is Dodge Center, MN known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Milton L. Humason and Shirley Ardell Mason.