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Minnesota city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Rochester?

What it costs to live in Rochester, and how it compares with other Minnesota cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

57

32nd best value in Minnesota

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Minnesota cities.

Overall livability

46

42nd overall in Minnesota

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Rochester is home to about 119,732 people. A typical home runs $236,400 and a household earns around $79,200, a price-to-income ratio of 3.0. Among Minnesota's largest cities, it ranks 32nd for value and 42nd overall.

Rochester at a glance

Median home price

$236,400

24th in MN of 72

Median rent

$1,120/mo

Median household income

$79,200

Home price to income

3.0x

Unemployment

3.5%

30th in MN of 72

School rating

7/10

43rd in MN of 72

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in MN of 72

Walk score

13/100

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‹ See all top Minnesota cities ranked  ยท  Minnesota state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Minnesota only. Updated 2026.