Living in Chatfield
“The Chosen Valley,” a historic town southeast of Rochester near the Root River.
- Distance
- About 20 miles southeast of Rochester
- Population
- About 3,000
- County
- Fillmore and Olmsted Counties
- Main roads
- US 52, MN 30 and MN 74
- School district
- Chatfield Public Schools
About Chatfield
Chatfield, known as “The Chosen Valley,” is a historic town where Highway 52 heads into the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota. Mill Creek, a designated trout stream, runs through town.
It has a Carnegie library, a historic downtown and an active arts scene for a town its size.
Things to do
Chatfield Center for the Arts
Music, theater and visual arts in the renovated Potter Auditorium.
Western Days
The town’s annual celebration, held the second weekend in August.
Trout fishing and the Root River
Mill Creek runs through town, and the Root River valley is close by.
The homes
Chatfield offers historic homes near downtown and newer homes on the edges of town, with a scenic drive into Rochester.
Other towns nearby
Details on this page come from public sources and were last checked in October 2026. Confirm school boundaries with the district and city details with the city before you buy.
Thinking about Chatfield?
I’m happy to talk through whether it’s a good fit and what homes there look like right now.