What BestPlaces Users Say about Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota is a mid-sized city located in the southeastern part of the state. It is known for being the home of the world-renowned Mayo Clinic and is often ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States due to its low crime rate, strong economy, and quality healthcare. However, as with any city, there are both positive and negative aspects to living in Rochester. To get a better understanding of what it is like to reside in this particular place, I have gathered user reviews from BestPlaces.net to gain insights from those who have experienced living in Rochester firsthand.
According to user reviews on BestPlaces.net, Rochester is a great place to live with a strong sense of community. One reviewer, Sarah, says, "I have lived in Rochester my whole life and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. The people here are friendly and welcoming, and there is always something to do." Another user, Tom, adds, "The schools are top-notch and there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy, making it a perfect place to raise a family." These positive comments highlight the friendly and family-oriented atmosphere in Rochester.
In addition to the strong community, many reviewers also praise the city's amenities and low cost of living. As Emily puts it, "Rochester has everything you need without the high cost of living in bigger cities. There are great restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options." Another reviewer, Mark, mentions the abundance of parks and recreational areas, stating, "I love that I can easily find somewhere to enjoy nature and stay active in Rochester." These comments showcase the diverse amenities and affordable lifestyle that Rochester offers.
However, there are also some concerns expressed by reviewers about the city. Some users mention that the winters can be harsh and long, with heavy snowfall and cold temperatures. As Laura states, "The winters can be tough to handle, but the city does a good job with snow removal." Another reviewer, John, points out the lack of diversity in the city, stating, "Rochester is predominantly white and lacks cultural diversity, which can be challenging for some." These comments highlight the potential challenges that come with living in Rochester.
In conclusion, based on user reviews on BestPlaces.net, it is evident that Rochester, Minnesota offers a strong sense of community, a variety of amenities, and an affordable cost of living. However, the harsh winters and lack of diversity may be concerns for some. Ultimately, each individual's experience in living in Rochester may differ, but these reviews provide valuable insights for anyone considering making this city their home.
based on 31 ReviewsGet to know Rochester with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota - 2/26/2011
First off the positive, Rochester is a nice city,with a population of around 100K, its a nice size, easy to get around and a good clean safe palce to live, with Mayo Clinic, World Class Medical Care being its number 1 asset. Its a great place to go when your are in need of medical care, thats for sure. Unfortunately,it is Minnesota, and with that comes a very difficult climate that beats you up with a vengence, and Winter is a season that dosen't seem to want to leave very fast.Winters icy grip takes a toll everything it touches, the roads, buildings,nature,homes,cars, and most brutal to your body, your health both mental and physical. It has no mercy, you feel older than you are, every injury you ever had lets you know when the icy cold touches your body, your skin drys up with the heated homes and you look 10 years older after one winter. It is a hard life in this climate, I have lived in kinder,gentler climates and prefer it and seek to return to that
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Minnesota Nice - 10/27/2010
I've been here for a couple years now for work. Like others have said it's great if you're married with kids. In my experience the people aren't that nice, they just pretend to be. They call it "Minnesota Nice", which I guess is another way of saying fake. Of course some people are incredible, but in general, I've been shocked at the unfriendliness of people here. They claim diversity, which could be true but the mindset and stares of the people make you feel unwelcome if you're not of the majority. You can always tell when someone isn't from around here because they will speak to you out of the blue. It feels like they are stuck in the past and have no intentions on changing. They've had exhibits on cultural diversity and advertisments about it, which to me says a lot about what lacks here. Kudos to the people trying to educate others on how to be more open minded. Don't come here just for a job because the location and the community matter just as much as the
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The Goods and Bads - 5/10/2010
I was born and raised in Rochester. Last year I moved to Clarksville, TN and I saw some differences.
Minnesota in itself is cold. The temperatures are bad for anyone who likes a little warmth. I have heard, however, that the people there are great. I personally, felt that was partially true. Also, they are better drivers. They know to be cautious in bad weather and sometimes you'll have those bad drivers no matter where you go.
If you like alot of diversity, races, and culture. Rochester is the place to be. I personally, don't like the feeling of having to look over my shoulder periodically. I'm sorry, but I feel the town is overrun with Somali people.
The jobs suck. Like another person wrote, unless you are going to work for IBM or the Mayo clinic, you're out of luck. They do have a community college, but the whole town has no feel of community.
After hours, there is nothing to do. You have your bars, and a dirty old club that
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Bad neighbors - 4/30/2009
Have lived here most of my life, however in the last 10-20 years the nice neighborhoods within 5 miles of town have become filled with undesirable people buying these more affordable homes, bringing in low moral values and loud party/motorcycle/monster truck type younger people. To get away from this you have to be able to afford a very expensive home in the very outskirts of town and pay very high taxes, over and above the already high taxes we pay in MN. I don't recommend living here unless you work at Mayo as a doctor or nurse and can afford the nicer neighborhoods and don't want to bike to work. Biking and walking are not easy in this city, either. Not to mention the frigid temps from October through April, and very high humidity from May to
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Nice Small Town - 4/3/2009
Rochester is a nice small town. Mayo Clinic, 2nd best health care provider in the world is based here. So why move? Winters! It's just plan to
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Crime - 3/27/2009
This is a fantastic place to live and work. With that said I believe it sends a message when your area growth since 2000 is 13% yet your Public Safety growth fails in comparison. An even stronger message is when some of the community is trying to organize the "Guardian Angels" to patrol city streets. To me that says, "We need more
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Grew up in Rochester, will never return. - 11/12/2008
Rochester was a great place to grow up. Good quality and fairly diverse schools; the town is small enough to bike anywhere in less than 20 minutes.
That said, I will never move back.
Rochester is somewhat culturally stuck in the early 80's. There are 3 classic rock radio stations for a city the size of almost 100,000. Go to any bar (pretty much only sports bars) in the city and all you hear is classic rock as well. It's almost like going back in time in a way. Even the local television station and newspaper don't yet seem to have technology or advertising capabilities past 1985. It's very strange.
Beyond that, it's a very boring town with limited job opportunities. If you can't get a job at Mayo or IBM, you really have no choice but to work at a low paying retail or hospitality job.
But if you can get a job at one of the two places, and your only plans are raising children- it's the best place to
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Really Nice - 5/12/2008
Rochester has over 60 miles of milti-use paved paths for bicycling, walking, walking your dog, etc. There are two dog parks and it is very rare to see a dog being walked off lead.
The city is surrounded by wooded hills and many of the houses are backed up against hills with wooded back yards. The first three springs here a doe gave birth in the wooded back yard next to mine even though and I live in a well established area. I've lived here for 5 years and rarely hear a siren and feel safe walking my dogs alone. Public transportation (cab or bus) is accessible. Many people bicycle to work and to run errands, some even year-round.
Snow removal is excellent and people keep their sidewalks clear of snow as well. The air is cool and fresh and often actually sweet smelling, usually with a breeze which keeps you cool in the summer and the insects at bay.
You should know Minnesota is one of the states with higher taxes but you actually get
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