Name: Rochester, MN
Rating: 0.0

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( 27 Ratings )

Living in Rochester, MN

Ranks better than 92% of areas Follow

Population

121,687

Median Age

35.9 Years

Rochester Area Facts

Rochester has a Livability Score of 92_/100, which is considered exceptional
Rochester crime rates are 18% lower than the Minnesota average
Cost of living in Rochester is 5% higher than the Minnesota average

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What do the locals think about Rochester?

69%

Family friendly

42%

Public transit is accessible

31%

Walkable to grocery stores

54%

Yards are well-kept

81%

Lots of parks

35%

Walkable to restaurants

Friendly neighbors

Safe at night

Pet friendly

Streets have sidewalks

50%

A quiet area

50%

Sense of community

Based on 26 votes from AreaVibes users. Take the poll

Homes For Sale In Rochester, MN

5920 Belfry Ln NW

Rochester, MN

427 21st Ave SW

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1371 Woodland Dr SW

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600 Toogood Ct SW

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See the Newest Homes For Sale In Rochester, MN

Rochester Reviews

Write a review about Rochester Tell people what you like or don't like about Rochester…

A dying town that only survives because of Mayo Clinic's money 1 rating By feral shade ( Apr 18, 2026) First off, the town is extremely conservative. I don't mean that in a political way, I mean it as in the people just don't care--about anything. With every public department, business, and non-profit organization that I've dealt with, it's been impossible to get people to do thei ...Read More r jobs effectively--or even anything that's slightly inconvenient. They either do nothing (hiding behind policies), intentionally do the wrong thing, or do the bare minimum so they can claim they made an effort. They love to complain though. Blame Mayo. Blame the refugees. Blame anyone. As a result, critical problems persist and get worse, and even basic tasks are insurmountable. Even Mayo is super-conservative. For all the funds they receive, they're extremely reluctant to actually treat patients, and even then it's the bare minimum without any real accommodation--even in an emergency. Good luck finding a nearby emergency room--even if you're standing inside the hospital you won't find one. I'm positive I can't survive beyond the next couple months.

There is a substantial class divide. The wealthy exist in a bubble of comfort. The poor are trapped in a quicksand of suffering and destitution. Particularly with housing. The town's culture, while nominally sympathetic, go out of their way to ensure that the toxic status quo remains the same. There's also a major race divide. Almost everyone you meet is white. While there's no overt racism, you can definitely see it passive aggressively. Non-white people are noticeable objectified and ignored. Literal red-lining for Somalian refugees. Same with religion. There's no variety at all. I think there's 1 synagogue, 1 Buddhist temple, and the rest is Christian churches. The anti-semitism is palpable--also passive aggressively. If you're transgender, good luck transitioning. Mayo gate-keeps like it was the 90s again and around town, half the people misgender--once again passive-aggressively--but sometimes outright hatefully. if you're disabled, the city doesn't care and often doesn't even acknowledge that you have disabilities--largely basing their understanding off of algorithms and visual assumptions. If you're a veteran, you won't find any kind of respect here. They thank you for your service, but when you need help, you're scum. This town has the superficial tolerance of Minneapolis, but beneath the surface, if you're different and struggling, you're not welcome. People aren't neighborly AT ALL. They're only quiet if you knock on their doors.

The amenities are few and far between. It's a popular saying that you need a car to get anywhere in Rochester, mainly because you have to drive for miles for basic, common services and stores. Uber rides get expensive quickly, and they know it. I personally just get everything i need delivered, it's my only practical option. It's even worse if you live in a surburban area. Nothing but houses and apartments for as far as the eye could see. There's nothing at all to do. For example, on Labor Day I roamed downtown, looking for some kind of event or attraction--some place to occupy my time. There was nothing. It was a ghost town. Some other residents later told me that Rochester isn't designed to accommodate residence, just visiting patients. There's nothing outside of Rochester either for at least 75 miles. Just tiny farming communities.

There's no real competition to keep prices down or customer care decent. Just one major dry cleaner. Just one major grocery store. One electric utility, etc. People love to complain about the cost of living, however, it's not even close to being as bad as New York, or California or Maryland. It's getting there though. Without any real options for consumers, we get overcharged frequently. It doesn't help that the job market is extremely dry (unless you work for Mayo).

I honestly haven't seen many issues with crime. Although within 2 months of moving here, someone broke into my home and assaulted me in the middle of the night and the police just ignored it, as did everyone else. So if there was crime, no one would talk about it.

The traffic isn't well regulated. There's indefinite construction blocking traffic in the busiest part of the city. The bus stops are often unpredictable. The road layout is predictably grid-like, and nearly all streets have a number as its name, however, that quickly becomes confusing. Is your destination is on 17th Street or 17th Avenue? Is that 17th Avenue NW, 17th Avenue NE, 17th Avenue SE, 17th Avenue SW, 17th Street NW, 17th Street NE, 17th Street SE, or 17th Street SW? Each of those is a different road.

The weather is pretty bad. The winters last for several months, and don't predictably end--most of the time being below freezing, so that's a few feet of snow. The wind can be fierce, with occasional tornado warnings.

The only thing I like about this town is the landscape. It's very spacious and it has a lot of parks and rivers. That part is beautiful and serene.

The problem is the people.

I'm giving this 1.5 stars because of the beautiful landscape. Otherwise, that would be overly generous. Read Less

Can't wait to move! 1 rating By Anonymous ( Jan 27, 2019) We moved her for my husband's job 1 year ago based on its ranking as "one of the best cities to live in". Rochester has been a HUGE let down from everything ranging from healthcare to general "feel" and life style. It is entirely ran by Mayo, which values out-of country patients ...Read More that are willing to "donate" millions of dollars IN EXCHANGE for top-tier care. Rochester citizens are colder than the weather, rude, extremely conservative; which I found shocking, largely unwelcoming of other ethnicities, and most of all; BORING. There's no energy in this town, no sense of HONEST community, no empathy, no efforts from Government or Mayo to genuinely care for its employees and residents. There's no pride in any of it's outdoor recreational facilities, no initiative to make the town beautiful or appealing for people looking for nature. We are looking forward to leave as soon as we can sell our house. Read Less

Rochester, MN - More than Just the Mayo Clinic 4 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 22, 2010) I have visited Rochester, MN on several occasions to visit the Mayo Clinic. There are many other attractions in Rochester other than some of the worlds best medical facilities. The city is surrounded by gorgeous landscapes including hills, trees, forest, farm lands and historical ...Read More buildings. There are some lovely parks within Rochester, as well. Most importantly to many visitors is that the city of Rochester has some of the nicest, friendliest and welcoming residents of any city I have ever visited.

Two of the attractions that I have enjoyed in Rochester, MN are Assisi Heights and the Plummer House. The Plummer House is a historic mansion with elegant gardens and wonderful architecture that sits on a hill above the town of Rochester. Another especially interesting and beautiful site is Assisi Heights which is the historic home and current home of the Sisters of St. Francis. Tours are offered daily at two in the afternoon. I have so sincerely enjoyed every visit I have made to Rochester. It is such a nice, clean, beautiful mid-western city. Read Less

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Rochester, MN - More than Just the Mayo Clinic 4 rating By Anonymous ( Jul 22, 2010) I have visited Rochester, MN on several occasions to visit the Mayo Clinic. There are many other attractions in Rochester other than some of the worlds best medical facilities. The city is surrounded by gorgeous landscapes including hills, trees, forest, farm lands and historical ...Read More buildings. There are some lovely parks within Rochester, as well. Most importantly to many visitors is that the city of Rochester has some of the nicest, friendliest and welcoming residents of any city I have ever visited.

Two of the attractions that I have enjoyed in Rochester, MN are Assisi Heights and the Plummer House. The Plummer House is a historic mansion with elegant gardens and wonderful architecture that sits on a hill above the town of Rochester. Another especially interesting and beautiful site is Assisi Heights which is the historic home and current home of the Sisters of St. Francis. Tours are offered daily at two in the afternoon. I have so sincerely enjoyed every visit I have made to Rochester. It is such a nice, clean, beautiful mid-western city. Read Less

Rochester Awards

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Compare Rochester, MN Livability

Rochester, MN

Rochester, Minnesota, is the third-largest city in Minnesota and is frequently rated as one of the best places to live in America. With a population of around 150,000, it has many of the cultural advantages of big-city living coupled with the comfort and charm of hometown America. Rochester is famous for its culture of caring, its extensive parks systems, and its spirit of innovation.

Known worldwide as the home of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester's nickname is "Med City." The Mayo Clinic employs around 50,000 people and is Rochester's major industry. Every year, more than 2 million people from every state, and more than 150 countries, are treated at the Mayo Clinic. All the doctors receive a fixed salary, giving rise to a citywide feeling of fairness and equality.

Because of the Mayo Clinic's commitment to cutting-edge research, many talented young medical professionals are attracted to Rochester. IBM also has a large facility in Rochester making it a hub for technological innovation as well.

Nature lovers love Rochester! There are over 100 parks and 100 miles of paved biking and hiking trails. Whether you are interested in a leisurely lunch-break stroll or a challenging all-day hike, there is something in Rochester for you. Visit the Quarry Hill Nature Center, Sekapp Orchard and Pumpkin Patch, or Silver Lake Park for a relaxing brush with nature. However, remember that winters in Rochester are snowy and cold, so come prepared.

Rochester has a strong agricultural tradition. Visit their year-round farmers market every Thursday, tour one of their many pick-your-own farms and orchards, or enjoy a good meal at a farm-to-table restaurant.

A large variety of public art abounds in Rochester. The Mayo Clinic has long been committed to displaying works from world-famous artists as well as giving those just starting out a chance to be seen and appreciated. The Rochester Art Center offers a contemporary and innovative art experience.

Rochester has an interesting history. Take a tour of the Mayowood Mansion, the History Center of Olmsted County, the Mayo Clinic, the Assisi Heights Spiritual Center, the Rochester Trolley Company, or the Historic Chateau Theatre House for a fascinating step back in time.

Rochester has an excellent public transportation system. Because so many people fly in for treatment at the Mayo Clinic, all forms of public transit are readily available and affordable. Eco-friendly forms of transportation such as biking, park-and-ride and carpooling are strongly encouraged.

Relocating to Rochester, Minnesota, is cost-effective. All major indicators for cost-of-living (housing, health care, transportation, groceries and utilities) are slightly below the national average. The quality-of-life indexes are well above the national average. If you love nature, crave a healthy living style, like a city with big city conveniences and a small-town feel, and want to be at the center of medical and technological advances Rochester is the city for you.