Living in Rochester, MN
Small city in Minnesota
Rochester is a small city in Minnesota, home to about 122,000 people, with 191,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.
Is Rochester a good place to live? Pros and cons
👍 Pros
- Mild summers: highs around 79°F
- Safe: violent crime is 0.6× the US rate (FBI 2019)
- Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $305k and rents for $1,960 a month
- Strong healthcare: 2 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
👎 Cons
- Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
- Higher taxes: about $2,443 state income tax per resident, 1.05% property tax
- Smaller job market: about 191,000 people live within 31 mi
- Cloudier than most places
Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Rochester ranks against your own priorities.
Key facts
Living in Rochester: common questions
What is the cost of living in Rochester?
A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $305k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,960 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 91, where the US is 100).
What are taxes like in Rochester?
Minnesota collects about $2,443 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.05% of their home's value in property tax each year.
Is Rochester safe?
Violent crime is well below the national rate (0.6× in FBI 2019 data).
What is the weather like in Rochester?
Rochester has long, snowy winters: winter days average around 26°F and summer days around 79°F, with roughly 52″ of snow a year.
Does Rochester get natural disasters?
Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, cold waves and tornadoes: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.25 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.
What is the nearest major airport to Rochester?
The nearest major airport is MSP, about 70 mi away.
How Rochester scores
Each bar compares Rochester with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).
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Is Rochester right for you?
Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.