The Town FilesRochester, Pennsylvania
Borough in Beaver County · population 3,472 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,800
- Household income
- $43,080
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 42.1
Rochester is a borough of 3,472 people in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $116,800, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Rochester ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rochester is worth $116,800, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $43,080, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $801 a month. 43.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rochester | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,800 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $801 | $996 |
| Median household income | $43,080 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 43.3% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rochester
| People | Rochester | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.1% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 14.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Rochester
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 40.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.1 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochester since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 31, 1985 about 6.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 126 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 26, 1956.
Severe weather in Beaver County since 1996
Beaver County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| April 16, 2010 | Snowstorm | DR-1898: Severe Winter Storms And Snowstorms |
| September 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3235: Hurricane Katrina |
Jobs and pay in Beaver County
Beaver County had 48,481 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,825 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Rochester itself the ACS puts it at 9.4%.
Public schools in Rochester
3 public schools with 743 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester Area Elementary School | K-5 | 342 | 10.1 |
| Rochester High School | 9-12 | 227 | 13.4 |
| Rochester MS | 6-8 | 174 | 11.6 |
Towns near Rochester
- Rochester, PA1.1 mi · 2,711 people · home $149,200
- Beaver, PA1.4 mi · 4,438 people · home $254,100
- Monaca, PA1.4 mi · 5,625 people · home $162,700
- New Brighton, PA2.7 mi · 5,729 people · home $109,200
- Daugherty, PA3.2 mi · 3,078 people · home $191,300
- Patterson, PA3.8 mi · 3,129 people · home $233,400
- Center, PA3.8 mi · 11,648 people · home $256,000
- Beaver Falls, PA4.4 mi · 9,005 people · home $92,100
Rochester questions
Is Rochester, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rochester scores better for retirees than 1% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 2%. 18.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Rochester?
The median owner-occupied home in Rochester is valued at $116,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,080, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $801 a month.
What is the weather like in Rochester?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.3 inches of precipitation a year and 29.1 inches of snow.
Does Rochester get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rochester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 31, 1985. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- 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)