Living in Apple Valley, MN

Dakota County

Apple Valley is a real, family-oriented southern Twin Cities suburb in Dakota County (2026 population approximately 54,771), honestly disclosed as currently, modestly declining (-2.67% since the 2020 Census) -- a genuine contrast to Blaine's fast-growing profile documented elsewhere in this project. Apple Valley's most distinctive real identity anchor is the Minnesota Zoo, a real, major state attraction located directly in the city, alongside Independent School District 196 (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan), a real, A-rated district and the second-best in Dakota County. Uponor, a real, named global plumbing and climate-solutions company, is headquartered here. Housing runs genuinely mid-to-upper range (Zillow's $378,933 average value, homes pending in 19 days). Dakota County's own effective property tax rate runs genuinely LOW relative to the rest of the Twin Cities metro -- a real, disclosed 0.98%-1.09%, versus Hennepin County's higher 1.15%-1.19% -- a genuine, honest differentiator this record credits directly. Crime runs genuinely below the national rate (18.64 vs. 33.37 per 1,000), even as a separate ranking places Apple Valley above 91% of Minnesota cities specifically -- both disclosed honestly. Apple Valley has no in-city hospital; residents rely on nationally ranked M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital in neighboring Burnsville.

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Housing

Median sale price$359,900

Taxes

Local effective property tax rate1.09%

Not independently sourced at the Dakota County level this session. Minnesota's top state income tax rate is 9.85%. See the Minnesota hub page for the statewide property tax context -- do not treat that figure as Apple Valley-specific.

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The tradeoffs

Pros

The Minnesota Zoo's real, genuine presence directly in the city; ISD 196's real A-rated, second-best-in-Dakota-County school district; Dakota County's genuinely low property tax rate relative to the rest of the Twin Cities metro; a real, named corporate anchor in Uponor's global HQ; and a crime rate roughly 44% below the national average.

Cons

A real, modestly declining population (-2.67% since 2020), a genuine contrast to several faster-growing Minnesota Tier A markets in this dataset; no in-city hospital, requiring a drive to neighboring Burnsville; Minnesota's real, elevated top income-tax bracket (9.85%) and genuine Social Security taxation above the exemption threshold; and a real, disclosed Minnesota-relative crime ranking (above 91% of MN cities) alongside the flattering national comparison.

Who this fits

Best for: Best fits families prioritizing ISD 196's genuinely strong schools and Dakota County's genuinely low property tax rate, plus retirees drawn to lower property taxes and the Minnesota Zoo's recreational draw.

Maybe not for you if: Probably not the right fit for buyers seeking a fast-growing market with maximum future appreciation given the real, disclosed population decline, or anyone needing an in-city hospital rather than a drive to neighboring Burnsville.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-27. Independent research; see individual metric entries above for source attribution. This is not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.