Rochester 68 Good
Rochester Livability #382 ranked city in Wisconsin#9,703 ranked city in the USARanks better than 66% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Rochester

PROS
  • Crime Crime

    Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.

  • Employment Employment

    Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    A low commute score could be due to longer-than-average work commutes and the limited availability of public transportation in this area.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    The low score in this category could be due to challenges related to air quality and the limited accessibility of health-related facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and pharmacies.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Rochester?

Rochester, Wisconsin is a small-sized city with a population of 3,932 inhabitants. If we look at the most recent Census, Rochester is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Rochester is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 27 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.

Living in Rochester can be a fulfilling experience for anyone relocating to the town. Having said that, in the state of Wisconsin, there are many incredible places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. With useful information like crime, commute, education, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Rochester and in the areas around Rochester is a much easier task.

With a livability score of 66 out of 100, Rochester is ranked #10,618 in the United States and #404 in Wisconsin. Based on the rankings for each individual category, Rochester has been rewarded with high marks for crime (A+), employment (A+) and housing (A+). There are some categories that Rochester does not rank well for, including: amenities (F) and education (D-). It might be worth taking a closer look to figure out why.

The unemployment rate in Rochester has consistently declined over the years and currently stands well below the national average at 2.6%. This downward trend holds the potential to reduce poverty and inequality within the region, promote higher wage levels and stimulate greater economic growth. Such positive indicators signal the overall robust health of the local economy, offering a promising outlook for its residents and fostering an environment of financial well-being and prosperity.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Rochester excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Rochester real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Rochester. The median home price for Rochester homes is $512,690, which is 70.2% higher than the Wisconsin average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Rochester, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.6, which is 2.7% lower than the Wisconsin average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Rochester

See all the best places to live around Rochester

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      Rochester transportation information

      Statistic Rochester Wisconsin National
      Average one way commute27min22min26min
      Workers who drive to work86.7%80.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.4%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%1.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.0%3.3%2.8%
      Working from home4.6%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Rochester, WI data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.