Rochester, MN Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Rochester, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Rochester →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Population in Rochester, Minnesota runs approximately 120,848. Median household income sits at $83,973, landing above the benchmark median we track across cities (+16%).
For renters and buyers alike, Rochester offers a median home value of $268,800 (below the tracked median, -18%) and median rent of $1,218 monthly. Local property taxes and current mortgage rates will shape the real cost of buying.
Rochester's home-price-to-income ratio of about 3.2× puts it in affordable territory — income here stretches further toward a home purchase than in many cities we track. Prices in the area have gained 2.52% year over year, a moderate pace that suggests a stable market around Rochester. FEMA classifies Rochester's hazard risk as Relatively Moderate, a comparatively low rating among the cities we track.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,218/mo in Rochester would take 17.4% of your income.
$881/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($268,800) would take 20.5% of your income toward principal & interest.
$524/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Rochester
Median home value is $268,800 and median gross rent is $1,218/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Olmsted rose 2.52% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,407/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Rochester's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Rochester reported a violent crime rate of 200.6 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Rochester
Planning a move to Rochester? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Rochester, MN?
- In Rochester, the median home value is $268,800 and median rent is $1,218 per month, against a median household income of $83,973. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rochester?
- Rochester's median rent of $1,218/month works out to roughly $48,720 in annual income needed, if you're budgeting the standard 30% of gross pay toward rent. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Rochester.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Rochester?
- Renting in Rochester at the median $1,218/month calls for about $48,720 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $268,800 takes roughly $61,500 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is Rochester safe?
- Rochester's violent crime rate, per FBI reporting for 2025, stands at 200.6 per 100,000 residents.
See the full salary breakdown for Rochester →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Rochester's.