What are the schools like in Rochester, IL?

Rochester is served primarily by Rochester CUSD 3A. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.4:1.

What is the median household income in Rochester?

The median household income in Rochester, IL is $107,800 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

What is the weather like in Rochester, IL?

Rochester has an average high temperature of 35.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.8 inches.

Rochester, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Rochester, IL affordable or expensive?

Rochester's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Rochester is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $225,800 and the median rent is $1,201 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Rochester, IL?

Rochester has a violent crime rate of 76.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 536.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Rochester, IL a Good Place to Live?

Rochester is a small town of 3,752 in Illinois, with a median household income of $107,800 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Rochester stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Rochester is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Rochester city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.5

Rochester's overall cost of living index is 90.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Rochester costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Rochester, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$225,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,201	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	94.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$107,800	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Rochester's violent crime rate is 76.7 per 100,000 residents — 80% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

76.7 /100k

Property Crime

536.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Rochester is served primarily by Rochester CUSD 3A. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Rochester, IL	National Avg
School District	Rochester CUSD 3A	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	49.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Rochester sees average highs of 35.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 37.4 inches of annual precipitation and 21.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Rochester, IL
Average High — January	35.8°F
Average High — July	85.5°F
Annual Precipitation	37.4"
Annual Snowfall	21.8"

Demographics

Metric	Rochester, IL	National Avg
Population	3,752	—
Median Age	39.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	27.4%	22.2%
65 and over	19.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Southern View, IL 5 mi Clear Lake, IL 5 mi Springfield, IL 5 mi Grandview, IL 6 mi Jerome, IL 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Rochester

Rochester, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

62563

Rochester vs Other Cities

Rochester, IL vs Southern View, IL Rochester, IL vs Clear Lake, IL Rochester, IL vs Springfield, IL Rochester, IL vs Grandview, IL Rochester, IL vs Jerome, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rochester, IL affordable or expensive?

Rochester's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Rochester roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $225,800 and median rent is $1,201/month.

What is the crime rate in Rochester, IL?

Rochester's violent crime rate is 76.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 536.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Rochester?

Public schools in Rochester are operated by Rochester CUSD 3A. The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1. 49.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Rochester, IL a good place to live?

Rochester, IL has a population of 3,752, a median household income of $107,800, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Rochester?

Rochester averages 35.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.4 inches with about 21.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Rochester?

Rochester, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62563.

What is the population of Rochester?

The population of Rochester, Illinois is 3,752 with a median age of 39.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Rochester?

Key numbers for living in Rochester: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $225,800, median household income $107,800, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rochester side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.