Curious what people think. Average temperature is around 51°F, so expect cold winters. Household incomes average around $46,628 in Rochester. With a population of 210K, Rochester is a mid-size city. The unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is about average. Property taxes are high but you get good services. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. Does this match your experience? Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. There's a growing tech scene which is exciting. The weather takes some getting used to. The weather takes some getting used to. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods.
21 upvotes
3 Replies
Owen T.
seconding this
31 upvotes
William S.
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value pet-friendliness, you'll love it. The public transit is genuinely challenging and I've found the quality of life is solid. My neighborhood (Uptown) is stable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Minneapolis, be prepared for the culture shock. healthcare is completely different here. And Summers can be brutally hot.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
31 upvotes
Ethan H.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 6 years ago from Minneapolis and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 2-bed in Fairview. It's solid for what you get.
Jobs: The market is reasonable right now, especially in engineering. If you're in marketing you might struggle.
People: Generally challenging. It took about 17 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: improving. Tons of options if you like Thai.
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