Living in Rochester
Southeastern Minnesota’s largest city and home to Mayo Clinic, with neighborhoods from historic to brand new.
- Distance
- About 85 miles southeast of the Twin Cities
- Population
- About 121,000
- County
- Olmsted County (county seat)
- Main roads
- US 14, US 52 and US 63, with I-90 just south of the city
- School district
- Rochester Public Schools (ISD 535)
About Rochester
Rochester is the third-largest city in Minnesota and the center of the region’s jobs, health care and shopping. Mayo Clinic is by far the largest employer, alongside Rochester Public Schools, IBM, Olmsted County and Olmsted Medical Center.
Downtown keeps growing through Destination Medical Center, a long-term public and private investment around Mayo Clinic, Discovery Square and the riverfront. Rochester International Airport, about seven miles south of downtown, has direct flights to several major hubs.
Things to do
Silver Lake and Soldiers Field
The city’s two biggest central parks, with trails along the Zumbro River.
Quarry Hill Park and Nature Center
Wooded trails, a pond and a nature center on the east side.
Downtown and Peace Plaza
Restaurants, the Mayo Civic Center, Rochester Art Center and the public library.
City golf courses
Several public courses, including Soldiers Field, Eastwood and Northern Hills.
Colleges
University of Minnesota Rochester and Rochester Community and Technical College.
The homes
Rochester has the widest range of homes in the area: older houses and historic districts close to downtown, established neighborhoods from the mid-1900s, and newer construction on the northwest and southeast edges of the city. Townhomes and condos are common near downtown and along the main corridors.
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 Rochester?
I’m happy to talk through whether it’s a good fit and what homes there look like right now.