Livability.com recognizes Rochester as One of the Best Places to Live in America

Achieved Silver Certification in the Bloomberg Philanthropies' What Works Cities program.  The assessment centers on eight foundational practices: Data Management; Rigorous Evaluations; Leadership & Capacity; Open Data; Performance & Analytics; Data-Driven Budgeting & Finance; Results-Driven Contracting; and Stakeholder Impact. 

Ranked Second Best Place for Veterans to Live by Veterans United.

Rochester, MN and Olmsted County listed in Top Ten "Large Communities" on AARP's Livability Index Top 100.

Ranked on Forbes' Best 25 Places to Retire in 2023.

#1 City in Minnesota to start a new business, according to Swyft Filings.

Top 25 City on Forbes 2022 Best Places to Retire list.

Selected as one of 22 cities to join the Bloomberg Philanthropies City Data Alliance to chart new frontiers for data-driven government.

Ranked third Best Place to Live in the US by Livability.

Rochester Public Works Team takes First Place in "Build a Better Mousetrap" Competition - Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program

Ranked sixth in the country in University Business' "50 Best Small College Areas to Live and Study."

Number four on Martha Stewart's Best Cities to Buy a House in America.

Ranked in the Top 7 Most Beautiful Cities in Minnesota by World Atlas.

Received Top Honors in Boston Society's Architecture Design Awards for the Riverfront Small Area Plan in collaboration with Gamble & Associates.  View the Award-Winning Plan.  

Bloomberg Global Mayors Challenge Winner - Bloomberg Cities Network

2nd Place Gold Pencil & Gold Screen Award - Brand Identity Category - National Association of Government Communicators

Northern Lights Award - Logo, Icon, or Icon Set Category- Minnesota Association of Government Communicators

#1 Most Livable Mid-Sized City - SmartAsset

#5 'Top 100 Best Places to Live' 2020 - Livability.com

Transit System of the Year - Minnesota Public Transit Association

Gold Level Peak Performance Award - National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)

AMWA Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance - Association of Municipal Water Agencies

MMUA Presidents Award - Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association

Top Projects of 2020: Rochester North Service Center and Police Station - Finance & Commerce

#15 Best Places to Live - Money

Lowest Poverty Rate in the Nation - 24/7 Wall Street

Best Tasting Water - Southeast Section of the Minnesota American Water Works Association (AWWA)

#5 Most Affordable Places to Live - MarketWatch 

#5 'Top 100 Best Places to Live' 2019 - Livability.com

Top 25 Convention Cities in the U.S.A. for 2019 - MeetingSource

"Build a Better Mousetrap" - First Place - Public Works - Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program

Rochester Public Library - National Medal for Museum and Library Service from The Institute of Museum and Library Services 

Gold Level for LEED for Cities - U.S. Green Building Council

Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community from The League of American Bicyclists 

Mayo Clinic ranked as Best Hospital 2017-18 by U.S. News & World Report

#3 'America's Most Innovative Cities' 2018 - 24/7 Wall Street

Rochester Public Library - Minnesota Local Government Innovation Award for Rochester Reading Champions Program

Rochester Public Library - John Cotton Dana - Library Public Relations Award

Mayo Field Named #1 by the Minnesota Parks and Sports Turf Managers Association

SolSmart Certification - Silver Level

Minnesota GreenSteps City - Step 5 - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

"Build a Better Mousetrap" - Second Place - Public Works - Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program

Library Journal Movers & Shakers - Heather Acerro

Community Partner of the Year Award - Legal Assistance of Olmsted County

Karl Shurson Quality Award - Performance Excellence Network 

Rochester Public Library - National Medal Finalist - Institute of Library and Museum Services

Rochester Public Library - Presidents' Community Partner Award - University of Minnesota Rochester

#1 ‘Top 100 Best Places to Live' 2017 + 2016 - Livability.com

#2 'Best Cities for Children' 2017 - SmartAsset

Minnesota is #3 in "America's Top States for Business 2017" by CNBC

#5 '10 Best Cities for Living the American Dream' 2017 - SmartAsset

#9 ‘Top 50 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs' 2017 - Livability.com

#10 'Most Livable Mid-Sized Cities in the U.S,' 2017 - SmartAsset

‘One of the 10 Easiest Cities to Find a Job' 2017 - ZipRecruiter.com

Maude Finch Award (United Way of Olmsted County's Women's Leadership Council) - Audrey Betcher

KTTC -"10 Who Make A Difference" Award-Rochester Reading Champions Volunteers

2016-2017 Reading Heroes Award-The Rotary Club of Rochester (Gail Harris)

#1 ‘The 25 Healthiest Cities in America' 2016 - 24/7 Wall St.

#1 ‘Best City for Women in the Workforce' 2016 - NerdWallet

#1 'Best City for Working Women' 2016 -  SmartAsset

#9 ‘America's Best Employers' - Mayo Clinic 2016 - Forbes.com

‘Top 10 Affordable Places to Live' 2016 + 2015 - Livability.com

‘Top 50 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs' 2016 - Livability.com