The Town FilesRochester, Illinois
Village in Sangamon County · population 3,863 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $238,900
- Household income
- $117,118
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 19 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 39.8
Rochester is a village of 3,863 people in Sangamon County, Illinois. The median home is worth $238,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for families than 96% of Illinois towns, better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 90% of Illinois towns.
- #4 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Illinois
- #4 in The 16 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
- #6 in The 12 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Illinois
- #14 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Illinois
- #20 in The 22 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Illinois With Mild Winters
- #22 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Illinois
How Rochester ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rochester is worth $238,900, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $117,118, which is more affordable than 61% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,288 a month. 93.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rochester | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,900 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,288 | $960 |
| Median household income | $117,118 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 93.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rochester
| People | Rochester | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.9% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.5% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 19.1% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 90.4% |
Weather in Rochester
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 18.5 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochester since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 14, 1957 about 5.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 82 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 21, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 75 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 8, 2020.
Severe weather in Sangamon County since 1996
Sangamon County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Sangamon County
Sangamon County had 134,376 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,350 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Rochester itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Rochester
5 public schools with 2,047 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester High School | 9-12 | 709 | 16.9 |
| Rochester Intermediate School | 4-6 | 415 | 15.4 |
| Rochester Elem EC-1 Sch | PK-1 | 370 | 16.8 |
| Rochester Jr High School | 7-8 | 296 | 13.5 |
| Rochester Elem 2-3 | 2-3 | 257 | 16.1 |
Towns near Rochester
- Riverton, IL7.2 mi · 3,532 people · home $152,200
- Springfield, IL7.3 mi · 114,394 people · home $162,100
- Chatham, IL10.3 mi · 14,377 people · home $243,200
- Pawnee, IL10.8 mi · 2,678 people · home $149,500
- Sherman, IL11.1 mi · 4,673 people · home $297,800
- Auburn, IL16.5 mi · 4,574 people · home $149,600
- Taylorville, IL16.8 mi · 10,506 people · home $104,100
- Virden, IL21.1 mi · 3,231 people · home $101,300
Rochester questions
Is Rochester, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rochester scores better for retirees than 90% of Illinois towns and quieter than 86%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Rochester?
The median owner-occupied home in Rochester is valued at $238,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $117,118, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,288 a month.
What is the weather like in Rochester?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 18.5 inches of snow.
Does Rochester get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 14, 1957. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)