What it's like to live in Rochester
Rochester is a mid-size city in Minnesota with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Rochester deals with air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, cold, harsh winters, and snowy winters.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Strong hospital ratings
The not so good
- Air quality concerns
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 52" per year
How Rochester compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Rochester
Based on Rochester's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,798
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $55,960 a year
- 46% of Rochester renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$62,100
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $31,050
- Homes cost 3.5× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,399/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,399 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $310,500. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $310,500 · 46% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 28% below US
3.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.1%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 43% below US
186 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1444/100k · Rochester Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 33% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 17.4 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 10°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
3 hospitals
There are 3 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.5 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 41% above US
51% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
52 public schools inside the boundary
There are 52 public schools inside the boundary and 13 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (71 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Rochester's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are air quality that falls short of national benchmarks and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,399/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Rochester
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