Moving to Rochester
What you need to know before relocating to Rochester, Minnesota. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Rochester a Good Place to Live?
Based on data across cost of living, job market, safety, and education, Rochester compares favorably on multiple dimensions. Highlights include median household income ($85,213) exceeds the national median; low unemployment rate (2.4%) signals a strong job market; violent crime rate (261/100k) is well below the national average.
Rochester at a Glance
Cost of Living in Rochester
The median rent in Rochester is $1,271/month, while the median home value is $308,900. With a median household income of $85,213, residents spend roughly 18% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Rochester metro area is classified as affordable compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Rochester has a median household income of $85,213, which is 14% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 2.4%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Rochester
The violent crime rate in Rochester is 261 per 100,000 residents, which is 31% below the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 1702 per 100,000 residents.
Education in Minnesota
Minnesota has a high school graduation rate of 94% and per-pupil spending of $18,057/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1.
40% of Minnesota adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
Minnesota has 318 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 4.8% uninsured rate, and 2.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in Minnesota is 78.7 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Rochester
+Pros
- ✓Median household income ($85,213) exceeds the national median
- ✓Low unemployment rate (2.4%) signals a strong job market
- ✓Violent crime rate (261/100k) is well below the national average
- ✓High school graduation rate of 94%
- ✓Low uninsured rate (4.8%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (101053 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rochester a good place to live?⌄
Rochester, Minnesota has several attributes that make it an attractive place to live, including median household income ($85,213) exceeds the national median and low unemployment rate (2.4%) signals a strong job market. It scores well on multiple quality-of-life metrics relative to the national average.
What is the cost of living in Rochester?⌄
The median rent in Rochester is $1,271/month and the median home value is $308,900. The median household income is $85,213. Overall the metro is considered affordable.
Is Rochester safe?⌄
Rochester has a violent crime rate of 261 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Rochester?⌄
Rochester has an unemployment rate of 2.4%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $85,213.