The typical owner-occupied home in Rochester is worth about $375,700, 41% above the Wisconsin median of $266,500 and 13% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $4,421 a year in property taxes, about 1.18% of their home's value, lower than the Wisconsin rate of 1.42%. The median household earns $107,038 a year, so the median home costs 3.5 times the median income (3.4 times for Wisconsin). 80% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 70% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Rochester at a glance
| Rochester | Wisconsin | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $375,700 | $266,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $4,421 | $3,792 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.18% | 1.42% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $107,038 | $77,485 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 80% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 70% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,942 | $1,689 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.8% | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $855 | $1,087 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 17.2% | 27.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1981 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 10.3% | 10.8% | 10.1% |
| Population | 3,764 | 5,914,872 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Rochester
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Rochester home of $375,700 with 20% down costs about $2,548 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,174, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $109,194 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 29% of the median Rochester household income of $107,038; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $368,000.
The median rent here is $855 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,693 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $75,140 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $300,560 |
| Principal and interest | $2,022 |
| Property taxes (1.18% a year) | $369 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $157 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,548 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $13,150 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $368,895 |
| Principal and interest | $2,482 |
| Property taxes (1.18% a year) | $369 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $157 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $166 |
| Total per month | $3,174 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Rochester
What is the median home value in Rochester?
About $375,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Rochester?
Homeowners pay a median $4,421 a year, which is about 1.18% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Rochester?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,548 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $109,194 a year.
More about Rochester
- Mortgage Refinance in Rochester
- Debt Relief in Rochester
- Home Equity Loans in Rochester
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data