Rochester Now One of the Best Places To Live in the Entire Country

Minnesota's Med City of Rochester has once again proven that it is one of the best places to live, not just in the North Star State, but across the U.S., according to a new national survey.

Rochester’s Growing Legacy as a Top U.S. City

Rochester has been making headlines over the past several years as one of the top cities in the country in terms of quality of life. In a story I wrote back in 2020, Rochester, which is now the third-largest city in Minnesota and largest outside of the Twin Cities metro, landed at the top of the SmartAsset Most Livable Mid-Sized City list.

Then, in 2022, I wrote a story about how Niche ranked Rochester 33rd on its list of America's Best Cities To Live, noting high marks the Med City garnered for both families and housing.

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And now, Livability is out with its 2026 list of the Top 100 Best Places To Live in the U.S., and Rochester once again made the list-- one of just two Minnesota cities to be included in the national survey.

How Rochester Ranked on the 2026 Livability Top 100 List

To compile their list, Livability said the list reflects the most livable cities in the U.S. that offer a combination of affordability, opportunity, and quality of life factors. Livability partnered with Applied Geographic Solutions (AGS) and looked at 100 data points measuring eight broad categories, including economy, housing and cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education, and health care.

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Overall, Rochester put up a score of 716 out of 1,000 points and ranked 35th on the Livability list, with the survey noting that the Med City ranks highest for transportation, education, and safety. Specifically, Livability said:

Why Rochester Outshined Most of Minnesota in Quality of Life

• Rochester is home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic and is known for its excellent health care.
• Rochester is affordable and known for its low crime rates, strong median household income, and overall quality of life.
• With more than 100 miles of paved trails, dozens of public parks, and the Zumbro River, Rochester is an outdoor lover’s dream.
• Education is a priority in Rochester, with a highly educated workforce and top-rated K-12 schools.

The only other Minnesota city to land a spot on this year's Livability list is Bloomington, Minnesota, which came in ranked 18th on the list with a score of 737 out of 1,000. Huntsville, Alabama, topped the list this year, with a score of 873.