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Living in
Apple Valley.
About
Life in Apple Valley
This is a well-established suburb that's genuinely pleasant to live in, though it's not trying to be something it's not. The Minnesota Zoo is here and it's a real draw for families, but day-to-day life is mostly about being a stable residential community with good schools through Independent School District 196, including some magnet options if you want specialized academics or arts programs. The median household income sits at $97,673, which is solid, and unemployment is low at 3.6%, making it relatively economically secure.
Apple Valley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.0%
Foreign-Born
11.7%
Broadband Internet
94.8%
of households
Population Growth
-2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.7% foreign-born, most often from Ethiopia
Who lives in Apple Valley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Apple Valley, the largest foreign-born group is from Ethiopia (12.3%), and 5.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.5%
of households
Married Couples
50.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.55
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 36% above MN average
Rent, home values, and income in Apple Valley
In Apple Valley, rent runs 36% above the MN average, and home values are 12% above the MN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
51.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,657
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
73.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1990
median year built
Vacant Homes
1.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $374,918 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MN
Unemployment in Apple Valley and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Apple Valley is close to the MN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Apple Valley Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area
Commute24.6 min avg
How Apple Valley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Apple Valley, most residents drive alone to work (66%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 38% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Apple Valley runs 38% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
203.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,455.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Apple Valley Police Department
Natural DisastersHail most common — 17 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dakota County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dakota County, which includes Apple Valley, the most common type is hail, with 17 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 17 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2022 | 18 | Hail | $2.1M |
| 2021 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $153,700 |
| 2020 | 16 | Winter Storm | $10,000 |
| 2019 | 20 | Hail | $10,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $25,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dakota County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dakota County, which includes Apple Valley, is typically good — 267 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
267
per year
Moderate Days
88
per year
Unhealthy Days
5
per year
Dakota County, county-wide
Climate79°F summers, 7°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Apple Valley has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and very cold winters (avg low 7°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
57°/37°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
26°/7°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.1"
Annual Snowfall
41.0"
Hot Days/Year
8
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
159
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
94
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | 3°F | 0.96" |
| Feb | 27°F | 7°F | 0.90" |
| Mar | 40°F | 20°F | 1.80" |
| Apr | 56°F | 34°F | 3.10" |
| May | 68°F | 47°F | 4.32" |
| Jun | 77°F | 57°F | 4.88" |
| Jul | 81°F | 61°F | 4.51" |
| Aug | 79°F | 58°F | 4.43" |
| Sep | 72°F | 50°F | 3.44" |
| Oct | 59°F | 37°F | 2.86" |
| Nov | 42°F | 23°F | 1.71" |
| Dec | 28°F | 11°F | 1.21" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Apple Valley
Uninsured
4.8%
of residents
No hospitals inside Apple Valley's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Burnsville
Minneapolis VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 10.8 mi away · Minneapolis
M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.6 mi away · Edina
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Apple Valley
Apple Valley's student/teacher ratio is 15.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 45.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
20
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
45.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Apple Valley (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 7,044 students · in-state tuition $6,567 · 26% graduate · median earnings $55,051 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,245 students · in-state tuition $56,460 · 78% graduate · median earnings $82,322 (10 yrs after entry)
Concordia University-Saint Paul
14.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,018 students · in-state tuition $26,400 · 62% graduate · median earnings $65,009 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,473 students · in-state tuition $53,214 · 57% graduate · median earnings $64,729 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 2,193 students · in-state tuition $6,583 · 28% graduate · median earnings $56,727 (10 yrs after entry)
Dakota County Technical College
6 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 2,168 students · in-state tuition $6,909 · 52% graduate · median earnings $56,812 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Apple Valley
Apple Valley has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
14 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
78 mi awayPublic Libraries in Apple Valley
Apple Valley: Galaxie Library
14355 Galaxie Avenue, Apple Valley
Cities Near Apple Valley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Apple Valley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Apple Valley FAQ
Is Apple Valley, Minnesota affordable?⌄
Apple Valley's median rent is $1,738/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $97,673/year. Median home value is $370,400.
Is Apple Valley, Minnesota safe?⌄
Apple Valley's violent crime rate was 204 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1456 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Apple Valley, Minnesota?⌄
Apple Valley has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Apple Valley, Minnesota?⌄
The cost of living in Apple Valley is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,738/month and median household income is $97,673/year. The median home value is $370,400. About 52% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Apple Valley, Minnesota?⌄
The average commute in Apple Valley is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from