Population 5,744 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Rochester
Household size in Rochester
| Period | Rochester | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.68 | 2.69 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.71 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.74 | 2.66 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.58 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | −0.11 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, Rochester sits close to the national average of 2.65. Household size has edged down from 2.68 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Rochester
| Period | Rochester | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.9 | 37.6 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.4 | 38.5 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.7 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.7 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.8 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
Rochester skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 42.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Rochester
| Period | Rochester | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.8% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 11.7% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 11.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 11.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 4.6% of households in Rochester, well below the national share of 11.6%. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 19 have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Rochester
Renters in Rochester
| Period | Rochester | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 30.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 33.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 33.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 6.0% | 32.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Rochester is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 6.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Nearly four in ten owners (37.4%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Only 11 of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Rochester
| Period | Rochester | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 10.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 3.8% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 9.8% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 8.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Rochester: 6.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.5 points, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Rochester
| Period | Rochester | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1966 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1968 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1970 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Rochester are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1983 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the north has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Rochester
| Period | Rochester | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,156 | $953 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $927 | $1,028 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,078 | $1,165 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,327 | $1,428 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$171 | +$475 | +$606 |
Rent in Rochester runs $1,327 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $171 a month since 2006–10, up 15%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 16.8% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Rochester
Bachelor's degrees in Rochester
| Period | Rochester | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.1% | 31.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.4% | 32.4% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 53.8% | 34.7% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 46.9% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | +6.5 pts | +7.2 pts |
Rochester is highly educated: nearly half of adults 25 and older (46.9%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 1.8 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Rochester
| Period | Rochester | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.5% | 86.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.3% | 87.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.9% | 89.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.8% | 90.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.4 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Rochester: 98.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only six of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Rochester
| Period | Rochester | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.8% | 8.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.2% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.2% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.1% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Rochester has been low: just 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 388 Illinois cities with 5,000+ people, only 22 have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Rochester compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | 2.64 | 45.7 | 4.6% | 6.0% | 6.6% | 1987 | $1,327 | 46.9% | 98.8% | 2.1% |
| New City | 2.43 | 55.1 | 3.3% | 3.1% | 5.5% | 1982 | $1,477 | 20.2% | 100.0% | 0.1% |
| Clear Lake | 2.67 | 34.7 | 25.2% | 31.4% | 7.5% | 1983 | $988 | 23.4% | 95.2% | 5.5% |
| Roby | 2.31 | 44.4 | 5.9% | 10.3% | 7.9% | 1977 | $1,103 | 35.1% | 97.6% | 7.6% |
| Southern View | 2.05 | 45.5 | 8.8% | 36.1% | 7.3% | 1962 | $1,178 | 24.8% | 91.0% | 5.2% |
| Dawson | 2.43 | 49.9 | 9.5% | 11.1% | 5.2% | 1982 | $769 | 27.2% | 95.8% | 2.4% |
| Springfield | 2.25 | 41.7 | 12.4% | 34.6% | 11.6% | 1970 | $1,087 | 34.8% | 93.0% | 7.4% |
| Riverton | 2.31 | 45.3 | 2.4% | 29.0% | 14.3% | 1975 | $1,026 | 20.3% | 94.0% | 0.2% |
| Jerome | 2.06 | 32.7 | 22.4% | 39.7% | 9.7% | 1961 | $891 | 28.3% | 92.3% | 5.0% |
| Mechanicsburg | 2.38 | 47.1 | 10.5% | 9.7% | 5.5% | 1977 | $848 | 25.8% | 97.6% | 5.0% |
| Bissell | 2.23 | 48.7 | 9.2% | 9.8% | 8.2% | 1991 | $940 | 29.7% | 89.5% | 4.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Peru, NY · Pioneer, CA · Pinnacle, NC · Pink Hill, NC · Piney Point Village, TX · Piney, AR · Pine Ridge, SD · Pine Island, MN · Piketon, OH · Pierre Part, LA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Rochester. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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