City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Rochester, WI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Rochester - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

3,780
Residents
$104,429
Median income
$340,900
Median home
$1,338
Median rent (state)

Rochester - the verdict

Nationally, Rochester sits in the 80th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

80th
percentile, household income
71st
percentile, home value
49th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Rochester, WI

Wisconsin's Rochester is a small town, with 3,780 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Rochester brings in $104,429 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Rochester are valued around $340,900, and the median resident age is 51.1 years. About 32.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 65.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 12 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Wisconsin at 94.1 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,338 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Wisconsin, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 88.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

3,780 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$104,429 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Rochester compare to other US cities?

Here's how Rochester stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 80% higher than other cities
Home value 71% pricier than other cities
Median rent 49% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Rochester against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Wisconsin only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Wisconsin-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Rochester near the bottom of Wisconsin's cities

Among the 761 Wisconsin cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Rochester ranks #671 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Rochester only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#70 of 753
91st percentile in Wisconsin
Median Gross Rent
#56 of 761
82nd percentile in Wisconsin
Median Home Value
#71 of 754
91st percentile in Wisconsin
Poverty Rate
#671 of 761
0th percentile in Wisconsin
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#169 of 761
78th percentile in Wisconsin

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Wisconsin only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

80thIncome percentile

80th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Rochester's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$340,900 29th percentile more affordable than 29% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Rochester $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Rochester, WI Rochester, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rochester, WI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Rochester, WI median $104,429/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Rochester, WI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Rochester, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
3,780
Median Income
$104,429
Median Home Value
$340,900
Median Age
51.1
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
65.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.9%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,720 residents3,740 residents3,760 residents3,780 residents3,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,766 residents 3,786 residents ▲ +0.5%
Rochester's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
12
housing units authorized
Single-Family
12
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 12
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 11
2024 12

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
89.4%
Carpool
1.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
8.6%
Other
1.0%

Based on 2,104 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Wisconsin - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wisconsin state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Wisconsin state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rochester sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,338/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
88.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Stanley
3,774 people
Horicon
3,797 people
Marshall
3,806 people
Arcadia
3,720 people
North Hudson
3,848 people
Bloomer
3,691 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rochester's 3,780 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

La Cienega, NM
3,780 people
Morrison, IL
3,781 people
Ajo, AZ
3,783 people
Jamestown, CA
3,777 people
Hudson, NC
3,777 people
Maiden, NC
3,777 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rochester's $104,429 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Patchogue, NY
$104,423 median income
Roselle Park, NJ
$104,418 median income
Sloatsburg, NY
$104,444 median income
Waverly, PA
$104,444 median income
Earlham, IA
$104,464 median income
Spring Creek, NV
$104,381 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rochester, WI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Rochester, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.8% White 97.1% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Rochester compares to nearby Wisconsin cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Rochester (this city) 3,780 $104,429
Stanley 3,774 $47,857
Horicon 3,797 $49,556
Marshall 3,806 $84,462
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rochester, WI?

What is the population of Rochester, WI? +

The population of Rochester, WI stands at 3,780 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rochester, WI? +

Median annual household income in Rochester runs $104,429, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rochester? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rochester; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Rochester, WI? +

Rochester's median home value sits at $340,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.