Rochester, MN

Overall Score

3.8

Rochester is one of the largest communities in the state. It has the status of the capital city of the County of Olomsted, which is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The urban area stretches along both sides of the banks of the river Sombró. There are also several artificial and natural lakes within the boundaries of the River Combrero. One of them serves as a cooling pond for the electric plant in the vicinity. The warm water of the lake and the resulting favorable habitat for fauna attracted many birds at one time or another. Among them are the migrating Canadian Geese (goats), which have become an icon of the River Rhochester. Thanks to the lakes sub-zero temperature, it does not freeze during the winter season and is a reliable refuge for winter visitors.

The local economy has benefited from the activity of industrial companies that produce radiation equipment and instruments, medical devices, and food products. But Maio Clinic remains the main beneficiary. It is a large private medical center. Its buildings occupy a large portion of the Rochester Center. Officially, it is known as "Medical City".

The area where the Reach is now located was, in the pre-Columbian period, the home of the indigenous peoples, particularly the Ojibwe, the Injube and the Sioux. With the arrival of the Jews, most of them were forced to leave their houses and migrate to displacement. In the mid-19th century the area of the present city became part of the state of Minnesset.

In 1854 it was a settlement founded by George Hoad. He called it Sauss Fork, where, in addition to a house for the family, there was soon a tavern. In a couple of years new people had settled in the settlement, and by 1858 there were already about 1,500 people living there. At the same time, Rochester, which grew out of Sauce Forest, became the administrative center of the county of Olomsted. With the commissioning of the railroad, the number of residents increased dramatically with the displacements.

In late summer 1883, a bomb that hit the city damaged many buildings and killed 37 people. Because of the lack of medical service, the citys citizen Maio and his sons took over the function. In 1889, he was able to open a private hospital with the help of a monastery for women in Saint François in the form of a $60,000 donation. It is now one of the worlds largest medical centers.

Overall Score

3.8
  • Air quality: 25 US AQI Good. Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
  • Tap water: Yes, safe to drink
  • Religious government: Non-religious
  • Population: 110,000 people
  • GDP: $57,808 / year
  • Foreigners can own real estate: Yes
  • Power outlets: 115V60Hz
  • Internet: 39 Mbps
  • Best wireless: T-Mobile
  • Pay without cash: Yes, cards OK almost everywhere
  • Tipping: How much should I tip at a restaurant? A gratuity of 15 to 20 per cent on top of the bill (before sales tax) is standard, with 25 per cent given for topnotch service. Servers in America work hard for the money – they’re generally friendly, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile for customers.
  • Apartment listings: Rent
  • Apartments: Airbnb
  • Hotels: Booking.com
  • More hotels: Hotels.com
  • Best taxi: Uber
  • Online electronics shop: Amazon
  • Best hospital: Mayo Clinic
  • Best intl air carrier: United Airlines
  • Monthly costs for expat: $1600
  • Monthly costs for family: $4000
  • Monthly costs for local: $1150
  • Meal: $9.5
  • Small Cola: $1.7
  • Beer 1 Pint: $4
  • Coffee: $3


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