Rochester, MN Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Rochester, MN Crime & Safety

Is Rochester, MN safe?

Rochester earns an overall crime grade of B citywide, but its neighborhood-level picture is even more encouraging: the city-wide safety rating is Very Safe (A). Of the 51 neighborhoods analyzed, 78.4% — 40 out of 51 — hold an A grade, and the remaining 21.6% (11 neighborhoods) hold a B grade. That means 100% of Rochester neighborhoods fall into the safe (A or B) range, with zero neighborhoods graded C, D, or F. For context, areas like Pine Ridge, Baihly Meadows, and Mayowood Hills sit at the top with A+ ratings, while higher-activity areas such as Downtown and Kutzky Park still only reach a B — a grade that reflects manageable, below-average risk rather than serious danger.

What is the crime rate in Rochester, MN?

Rochester's crime profile is strong by national standards. Across all 51 analyzed neighborhoods, no area grades below a B — a distinction few mid-sized U.S. cities can claim. The higher-activity pockets are concentrated in a small cluster: Kutzky Park, Downtown, and Lowertown each carry a B grade, while Oak Terrace / Parkside grades at B+ and Washington at A-. That means roughly 78.4% of the city's neighborhoods are graded A (very low crime), and the remaining 21.6% are graded B (low-to-moderate crime). Rochester's 3.9% unemployment rate and 9.5% poverty rate — both relatively low — correlate with the city's broadly suppressed crime environment.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Rochester?

Ten neighborhoods have achieved the top A+ safety grade, and several stand out for their combination of safety and socioeconomic strength:

• Mayowood Hills — A+ grade; median household income of $220,144, the highest of any listed neighborhood.
• Baihly Meadows & Baihly Woodlands — Both A+; median incomes near $189,000, with a combined population of roughly 814 residents.
• Hart Farms & Southern Hills — Both A+; median income of $165,143.
• Pine Ridge & Bamberwood — Both A+; median incomes above $161,000.
• Apple Hill — A+ grade with one of the larger populations among top-rated neighborhoods (771 residents) and a median income of $104,896, showing that affordability and safety can coexist.
• Emerald Hills — A+ grade; median income of $145,229.

Across these A+ neighborhoods, median incomes range from roughly $104,900 to $220,100, illustrating a consistent link between economic stability and low crime in Rochester's safest corridors.

Which Rochester neighborhoods have higher crime levels?

Even Rochester's most active crime areas are graded B or B+ — meaning they are still considered safe relative to national benchmarks. The five neighborhoods with the highest relative crime activity are:

• Kutzky Park — Grade B
• Downtown — Grade B
• Lowertown — Grade B
• Oak Terrace / Parkside — Grade B+
• Washington — Grade A-

Downtown and Lowertown follow patterns common to urban cores — higher foot traffic, nightlife, and commercial density can elevate property crime and minor incidents. Kutzky Park's B grade similarly reflects its denser, more urban character. Importantly, none of these areas approach the D or F grades seen in higher-crime cities, and Washington's A- grade means it sits only marginally below the city's A-tier majority.

Is Rochester a good place to live in 2026?

By nearly every measurable indicator, yes. Rochester's median household income of $76,034 exceeds many comparable Midwestern cities, while its 3.9% unemployment rate signals a robust job market anchored largely by the Mayo Clinic and its affiliated economy. The median home value of $218,924 and median rent of $1,044 offer relative affordability compared to major metro areas. On the safety side, 100% of its 51 analyzed neighborhoods grade B or better, and 78.4% grade A — metrics that place Rochester among the safest mid-sized cities in the Midwest. Families drawn to neighborhoods like Apple Hill or Baihly Woodlands, and professionals working near Downtown, will find a city where safety grades remain consistently high across very different community types.

How does Rochester's crime compare to other Minnesota cities?

Rochester's across-the-board neighborhood grades tell a compelling story: with 40 of 51 neighborhoods (78.4%) graded A and the other 11 neighborhoods (21.6%) graded B, Rochester achieves a 100% safe-neighborhood rate — meaning no neighborhood falls into the C, D, or F tiers that appear in larger Minnesota cities. Its population density of 814 residents per square mile is moderate, which helps keep crime dispersed rather than concentrated. Combined with a poverty rate of just 9.5%, Rochester's structural conditions support the low crime environment its grades reflect.