CensusEasy
METRO AREA

Rochester Metro

Rochester, MN · 4 counties · 231,184 residents (2025 est.) · 2,477.16 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
Notable rankings
#20Lowest poverty rateof 9257.5%
The short version

Rochester is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $92,495. Population has grown 24% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $310,933. It ranks in the top 1% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.0
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 59%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
228,522
+24%since 2000
from 184,740 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
92 / sq mi
+24%since 2000
from 75 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.0
+9%since 2000
from 35.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:231,184 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
156K176K196K215K235K1990201020202024Rochester
2024229K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$92,495
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,191 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$50,884
+122%since 2000
from $22,877 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
59.8%
+21.4 ptssince 2009
from 38.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
7.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2000
from 6.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.447
+7%since 2010
from 0.419 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information8.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8.5%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.5%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services3.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$310,933
+59%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $107,689 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,233
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $502 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
74.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2000
from 78.0% in 2000
25.6% rent
Vacancy rate
6.7%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.9%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 22.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2009
from 37.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+50%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
72
RELATED:See current rent listings in Rochester on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic91.7%(169,363)
Black1.8%(3,415)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(3,966)
Asian3%(5,466)
Other0%
Diversity Score16.8%(31,017)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic80.1%(182,983)
Black5.6%(12,775)
Hispanic / Latino5.3%(12,113)
Asian4.8%(10,880)
Other4.3%(9,771)
Diversity Score43.6%(99,639)
Segregation Score32.4%(73,996)
Diversity Score
44
+160%since 2000
from 17 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
32
−14%since 2020
from 38 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
43.1%
+14.4 ptssince 2000
from 28.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.0%
+6.0 ptssince 2000
from 89.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
17.8%
+7.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.6 min
+65%since 2000
from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
68.9%
−7.6 ptssince 2009
from 76.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.1%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.2%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.5%
+9.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
6.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.3%
−1.0 ptssince 2011
from 4.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.2%
−3.1 ptssince 2011
from 72.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
20.2%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
50.8%
−17.8 ptssince 2009
from 68.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.7%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
8.5%
+2.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
10.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 8.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.1%
−88.7 ptssince 2013
from 92.8% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.0%
+8.0 ptssince 2017
from 83.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.5%
−1.2 ptssince 2016
from 89.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 2.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

RochesterCENTRAL124,292
What's inside

4 component counties

Olmsted CountyCENTRAL166,731Fillmore County21,540Wabasha County21,537Dodge County21,376
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Rochester

Burlington
Pop 227,803
Charlottesville
Pop 228,597
Barnstable
Pop 233,539
Midland
Pop 193,139
Places similar to Rochester
Head to head

Compare Rochester side by side

ROCHESTER VS
Burlington
Income$93,347+1%
Home value$408,278+31%
Population227,803−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCHESTER VS
Charlottesville
Income$93,985+2%
Home value$445,185+43%
Population228,597−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCHESTER VS
Barnstable
Income$95,241+3%
Home value$629,000+102%
Population233,539+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ROCHESTER VS
Midland
Income$92,899same
Home value$308,703−1%
Population193,139−16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Rochester, MN?

Rochester, MN has about 228,522 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Rochester, MN?

The typical household in Rochester, MN earns about $92,495 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Rochester, MN expensive?

In Rochester, MN, the median home is worth about $310,933, and the typical rent is about $1,233 a month.

How educated are people in Rochester, MN?

About 43.1% of adults age 25 and over in Rochester, MN hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Rochester, MN?

About 7.5% of people in Rochester, MN live below the federal poverty line.

Has Rochester, MN grown since 1990?

Yes, Rochester, MN has grown since 1990. The population has added about 65,800 residents, a change of about 40 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Metro rankings
Largest US metrosHighest income metrosFastest growing metros
Compare
Compare Rochester with another metro

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →