The Town FilesRochester, Wisconsin
Village in Racine County · population 3,785 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $375,700
- Household income
- $107,038
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 47.2
Rochester is a village of 3,785 people in Racine County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $375,700, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 88% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 86% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 85% of Wisconsin towns.
How Rochester ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rochester is worth $375,700, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $107,038, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $855 a month. 80.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rochester | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $375,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $855 | $951 |
| Median household income | $107,038 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 80.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rochester
| People | Rochester | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 89.1% |
Weather in Rochester
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 11.6°F. About 36.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochester since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 22, 2010 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Racine County since 1996
Racine County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4923: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| March 11, 2020 | Flood | DR-4477: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 5, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1966: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Racine County
Racine County had 76,342 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,150 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Rochester itself the ACS puts it at 1%.
Towns near Rochester
- Waterford, WI2.9 mi · 5,542 people · home $329,800
- Browns Lake, WI3.1 mi · 1,879 people · home $334,200
- Burlington, WI4.1 mi · 11,047 people · home $276,600
- Waterford, WI4.2 mi · 6,514 people · home $424,300
- East Troy, WI5.2 mi · 3,992 people · home $369,300
- Burlington, WI5.5 mi · 6,465 people · home $302,800
- Tichigan, WI5.8 mi · 5,277 people · home $445,800
- Spring Prairie, WI6.2 mi · 2,123 people · home $418,100
Rochester questions
Is Rochester, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rochester scores better for retirees than 88% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 29%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Rochester?
The median owner-occupied home in Rochester is valued at $375,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,038, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $855 a month.
What is the weather like in Rochester?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 11.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.4 inches of precipitation a year and 37.7 inches of snow.
Does Rochester get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 22, 2010. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)