Rochester, Minnesota
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Rochester, MN.
This profile is Rochester, MN. Looking for Rochester, NY?
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How much does it cost to live in Rochester, MN?
For relocators asking how much Rochester costs: the housing index sits at 96 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $287,500 and rents near $1,316. Local median income is about $87,767 and unemployment recently ran 3.8% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 15 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 214.8 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 96U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $287,500U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,316U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $87,767U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.8%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 15 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 214.8per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 79°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Rochester compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 123,624City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $87,767Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year12% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 96ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg (100)U.S. 100 - Median home value
- $287,500City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year5% below U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,316City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-yearNear U.S. avg ($1,348)U.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.8%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · August 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 15 min40% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime rate
- 214.8per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)62% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 1881.3per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)37% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 79°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 10°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals25.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 34.7 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (33.2 in)Catalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 241As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals10% below catalog avgCatalog avg 268
Population trend
Rochester grew 15.5% from 107,047 in 2010 to 123,624 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Rochester, MN expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Rochester's housing cost index is 96 versus 100 nationally — near the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($287,500 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,316 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 96 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $287,500 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,316 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Rochester, MN?
Typical ownership costs center near $287,500, while median gross rent is about $1,316 a month. Against a median household income of $87,767, rent alone is roughly 18% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $287,500
- Median rent $1,316/month
- Median household income $87,767
What is the job market like in Rochester, MN?
County unemployment recently ran 3.8% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Rochester is about $87,767 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.8% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $87,767
How long is the typical commute in Rochester, MN?
Average one-way commute time is about 15 minutes. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 15 minutes average one-way
Is Rochester, MN safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 214.8 per 100k and property about 1881.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 214.8 per 100k
- Property 1881.3 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Rochester, MN?
Normals show summer highs near 79°F, winter lows near 10°F, about 34.7 inches of rain, and roughly 241 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 79°F
- Winter low 10°F
- 34.7 in rain · 241 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Rochester, MN?
Newcomers often start with Downtown, Mayo Clinic campus, Northwest — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Downtown
- Mayo Clinic campus
- Northwest
Rochester (pop. 123,624) sits in Minnesota. Households here report a median income near $87,767; our housing-derived cost index is about 96 (close to the national housing-cost baseline). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $287,500 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Harsh winters and a strong medical/tech employment base define Twin Cities life. Winter lows around 10°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Commutes average near 15 minutes one-way. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 3.8% for the surrounding county. Violent-offense rates around 214.8 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Newcomers often start housing searches in Downtown and Mayo Clinic campus, then compare against Northwest once a commute target is clear. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Rochester with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Downtown
- Mayo Clinic campus
- Northwest
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Rochester city, Minnesota, 1600000US2754880) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Olmsted County, August 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · August 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00014925 ROCHESTER INTL AP) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19