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Living in
Rochester.
About
Life in Rochester
Rochester is a community of 12,939 people in Michigan. The median household income is $111,750, median rent runs about $1,350 per month, and median home values are around $473,200. Unemployment is low at 3.9%, suggesting a relatively healthy local job market.
Rochester at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Foreign-Born
12.2%
Broadband Internet
95.0%
of households
Population Growth
-1.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.2% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Rochester: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rochester, the largest foreign-born group is from India (15.3%), and 3.5% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
22.1%
of residents
65 and Older
15.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.6%
of households
Married Couples
47.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.30
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 20% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Rochester
In Rochester, rent runs 20% above the MI average, and home values are 104% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,047
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
67.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1983
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $495,401 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Rochester and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Oakland County, which includes Rochester, is 1.3 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Rochester: Oakland County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Oakland County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Rochester is about 1% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Rochester Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area
Commute24.9 min avg
How Rochester residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rochester, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 63% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 34 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M 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 86% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rochester runs 86% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
46.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
223.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rochester Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Oakland County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Oakland County, which includes Rochester, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $40,500 |
| 2024 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18.0M |
| 2022 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $85,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17.9M |
| 2020 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $11.0M |
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.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Oakland County, county-wide
Rochester is about 1% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Oakland County, which includes Rochester, is typically good — 242 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
242
per year
Moderate Days
99
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Oakland County, county-wide
Rochester is about 1% of Oakland County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate80°F summers, 20°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rochester has warm summers (avg high 80°F) and very cold winters (avg low 20°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
57°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/20°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
34.0"
Annual Snowfall
36.0"
Hot Days/Year
10
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
135
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
130
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 17°F | 2.18" |
| Feb | 34°F | 18°F | 1.87" |
| Mar | 44°F | 26°F | 2.19" |
| Apr | 58°F | 36°F | 2.94" |
| May | 69°F | 49°F | 3.81" |
| Jun | 78°F | 59°F | 3.29" |
| Jul | 82°F | 63°F | 3.14" |
| Aug | 81°F | 62°F | 3.24" |
| Sep | 74°F | 54°F | 2.92" |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 2.90" |
| Nov | 47°F | 32°F | 3.15" |
| Dec | 36°F | 24°F | 2.25" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rochester
Rochester has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Beaumont Hospital, Troy
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.8 mi away · Troy
Havenwyck Hospital
Psychiatric · 6.8 mi away · Auburn Hills
Mclaren Oakland
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.3 mi away · Pontiac
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.
Education16.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rochester
Rochester's student/teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 70.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
70.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rochester (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 13,876 students · in-state tuition $3,745 · 18% graduate · median earnings $44,976 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 12,748 students · in-state tuition $3,220 · 31% graduate · median earnings $40,666 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 12,351 students · in-state tuition $16,176 · 63% graduate · median earnings $63,565 (10 yrs after entry)
Rochester Christian University
1.8 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 792 students · in-state tuition $30,510 · 52% graduate · median earnings $50,729 (10 yrs after entry)
Chamberlain University-Michigan
9.1 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 629 students · in-state tuition $21,655 · 82% graduate · median earnings $96,897 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 445 students · 73% graduate · median earnings $73,717 (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: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 55 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rochester
Rochester has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (55 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
55 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
73 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rochester
Rochester Hills Public Library
500 Olde Towne Road, Rochester
Cities Near Rochester
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rochester?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rochester FAQ
Is Rochester, Michigan affordable?⌄
Rochester's median rent is $1,350/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $111,750/year. Median home value is $473,200.
Is Rochester, Michigan safe?⌄
Rochester's violent crime rate was 46 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 224 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rochester, Michigan?⌄
Oakland County, which includes Rochester, has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rochester, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Rochester is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,350/month and median household income is $111,750/year. The median home value is $473,200. About 44% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rochester, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Rochester 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