The Town FilesRochester, Michigan
City in Oakland County · population 13,035 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $473,200
- Household income
- $111,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 41.2
Rochester is a city of 13,035 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $473,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 98% of Michigan towns.
How Rochester ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rochester is worth $473,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $111,750, which is more affordable than 6% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,350 a month. 67.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rochester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $473,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,350 | $955 |
| Median household income | $111,750 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Rochester
| People | Rochester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.2% | — |
| Work from home | 27.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Rochester
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochester since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 20, 1976 about 7.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 21, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on April 6, 2010.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Rochester itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Public schools in Rochester
4 public schools with 2,019 students, about 17.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin Elementary School | PK-5 | 534 | 18.4 |
| Roberts Elementary School | PK-6 | 523 | 15.8 |
| Hugger Elementary School | PK-5 | 511 | 20.4 |
| McGregor Elementary School | PK-5 | 451 | 16.7 |
Towns near Rochester
- Rochester Hills, MI2.6 mi · 76,300 people · home $409,800
- Shelby, MI4.3 mi · 79,408 people · home $354,500
- Oakland, MI4.9 mi · 20,067 people · home $588,900
- Utica, MI6.3 mi · 5,245 people · home $231,100
- Auburn Hills, MI6.3 mi · 24,360 people · home $245,000
- Washington, MI6.6 mi · 28,165 people · home $408,400
- Troy, MI7.2 mi · 87,294 people · home $420,300
- Sterling Heights, MI8.6 mi · 134,346 people · home $274,300
Rochester questions
Is Rochester, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rochester scores better for retirees than 47% of Michigan towns and quieter than 2%. 15.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in Rochester?
The median owner-occupied home in Rochester is valued at $473,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,750, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,350 a month.
What is the weather like in Rochester?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Rochester get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 20, 1976. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)