What Rochester Residents Are Saying: Results of the 2026 National Community Survey

- Nov 10, 2026

Press Release

The City of Rochester has released the results of the 2026 National Community Survey (NCS), offering an updated look at how residents feel about their quality of life and City services. Results show that Rochester continues to be a desirable place to live, with residents giving positive ratings to safety and utility services, while also identifying concerns about affordability, employment opportunities and transportation.

A total of 4,500 Rochester households were randomly selected and invited to participate in the survey. This approach helps ensure the results provide a representative picture of residents' opinions. Of those randomly selected, 511 completed the survey. An additional 1,031 residents participated through an open survey available to Rochester residents who were not randomly selected. This marks the City's third National Community Survey, following an earlier telephone survey conducted in 2018.

“We appreciate residents taking the time to share their perspectives. The results highlight both what people value about Rochester and the challenges they’re experiencing,” said City Administrator Alison Zelms. “We recognize that broader economic conditions and local changes influence how people feel about their community. While not everything is within the City’s control, we have a responsibility to take this feedback seriously and identify opportunities to improve. Our focus remains on providing reliable services and being a source of stability as our community continues to grow and change.”

Key findings from the Rochester survey include:

Rochester remains a desirable place to live. 73% of residents rated Rochester as an excellent or good place to live, 72% would recommend living here, and 77% are likely to remain for the next five years.

Safety remains a strength and priority. 75% rated their overall feeling of safety positively. Ratings for public safety services were in line with national and Minnesota benchmarks.

Utility services received strong ratings. More than 7 in 10 residents rated services such as stormwater management, power utilities, sewer services, garbage collection and drinking water positively. All utility ratings were in line with benchmark comparisons.

Employment and affordability ratings declined since 2024. Positive ratings for employment opportunities fell to 58%, affordable quality food to 53% and cost of living to 19%.

Ratings for participation opportunities declined since 2024. Opportunities for volunteering, social activities, community involvement, and cultural events received lower ratings, with most returning to 2022 levels.

Travel and parking remain potential focus areas. Ratings for travel by car, traffic flow, traffic signal timing, and public parking were below those of other Minnesota communities.

The full National Community Survey report is available on the National Community Survey webpage.

The survey results are a starting point for continued community conversation. Residents are encouraged to share their experiences, discuss what matters most to them and connect directly with the Mayor and City Council members at the Community & City Council Forum on Monday, November 30, at the Historic Chateau Theatre. These conversations will help inform the City's strategic planning process. Learn more on the Community & City Council Forum event page.