The Guide to Moving to Rochester MN is brought to you by the businesses listed below.
Rochester, MN is a welcoming and ever-growing community, and we often hear from individuals and families who are considering making the Med City their new home. Learning about a new city can feel overwhelming at first, with so many questions about where to start and what resources are available. To make things easier, we’ve created this guide to help you quickly find the information you need as you get to know Rochester.
To keep things simple and helpful, the guide is organized into three main sections: Helpful Information About Rochester, MN, Services, and Resource Guides. Whether you’re looking for basic information about the community, essential services, or deeper guides to help you navigate daily life, you’ll find everything gathered in one place.
Moving to a new city is a big step, but you’re not alone. Our hope is that this guide helps answer your questions, eases the transition, and introduces you to the many things that make Rochester such a wonderful place to live. We love our city and are excited to help you feel at home here.
START HERE - HELPFUL ROCHESTER MN INFO
How to Read Rochester Addresses
In Rochester, street addresses follow a quadrant system that helps people quickly understand where something is located in the city. The center point is the intersection of Center Street and Broadway Avenue. From that intersection, the city spreads outward into four directional sections: NW, NE, SW, and SE.
These directionals are an important part of every address because many street names repeat in different quadrants. For example, there could be a 6th Street NW, 6th Street NE, 6th Street SW, and 6th Street SE, all in different parts of Rochester. That small directional at the end of the address makes a big difference, so it is always worth double-checking to make sure you are headed to the right place.
Rochester Schools
Rochester Public School District 535 offers 25 public schools, comprised of neighborhood schools and district-wide option schools/programs. Neighborhood Schools are assigned based on where you live and the boundaries set by the school district. Students are automatically enrolled at their neighborhood school when they are registered with the school district. You can find your neighborhood school here with the Find Your School feature on the public school’s website. Registration for public school students is found in Room 124 of the Edison Building (615 7th Street SW.)
District-wide option schools/programs are schools or programs located within the Rochester Public School District that may deliver the curriculum in a different manner than neighborhood schools. District-wide schools and programs are tuition-free for students.
For more information and other schooling options, including private, please reference our Rochester MN Guide to K-12 Education.
Rochester Public Library
The Rochester Public Library is located in the heart of downtown Rochester and serves as the community’s single library location. Visitors can conveniently park in the nearby Civic Center Ramp, which connects easily to the library via skyway. Parking in the ramp is free after 5 PM on weekdays and throughout the entire weekend. Visitors who park for less than one hour also receive free parking.
While this is the only physical library branch in Rochester, the library’s bookmobile brings books and services to neighborhoods across the city. You can view the current stops and schedule by clicking here. The library offers far more than books, providing access to a wide range of resources, technology, and learning opportunities, and it hosts regular programs and events for children, teens, and adults throughout the year.
Downtown Rochester MN
Downtown Rochester, Minnesota, is the heart of the city, where culture, history, and public spaces come together in a walkable urban district. At its center is Peace Plaza, a lively gathering place that hosts concerts, markets, public art, and community events throughout the year. Just steps away, 1st Avenue Central Park offers a welcoming green space with seating areas, landscaping, and room to relax in the middle of downtown. The surrounding Historic District showcases beautifully preserved buildings that reflect Rochester’s early development and architectural character.
Downtown is also designed for easy access, with six public parking ramps and eight surface lots providing more than 5,000 public parking spaces, including about 1,300 on-street meters. Parking is free after 5 pm on weekdays, on weekends, and for visits under one hour in the parking ramps.
FIRST ALLIANCE CREDIT UNION
First Alliance Credit Union is proud to support more than 20,000 members across Southeast Minnesota, including those putting down roots in Rochester, Minnesota. Whether you’re moving for work, family, or a fresh start, we offer personalized mortgage solutions, trusted local guidance, and financial support designed to help you feel at home faster. Experience the credit union difference with a local partner who’s here for every step of your move.
Moving to Rochester MN
NEW HORIZON ACADEMY
New Horizon Academy is a nationally accredited childcare and early childhood education provider with two convenient Rochester locations. Through research-based curriculum, social-emotional learning and high-quality daycare, New Horizon Academy’s experienced teachers help prepare young children for success in kindergarten – and beyond!
Each Rochester childcare center offers a safe and secure learning environment with updated classrooms, modern amenities and highly trained teachers. Schedule a tour to learn more about the benefits of New Horizon Academy’s early learning programs, see inside the classrooms, and meet the teachers.
Moving to Rochester MN
ROCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Finding the right school for your student is easy with Rochester Public Schools! We offer diverse learning environments tailored to meet every family’s needs, from Pre-K through age 22. Whether you are seeking a thriving neighborhood school experience, access to rigorous advanced learning programs, or distinct districtwide options with specialized schedules and curricula, we offer an extraordinary level of opportunities that ensure more than one path to success for your student. Discover a welcoming community that values strong family engagement and is dedicated to your child’s future.
Moving to Rochester MN
SPARK — CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ROCHESTER MN
Moving to Rochester MN
OLD ABE & CO
Located in the Cooke Park Design District near 6th Avenue and 7th Street NW, Old Abe & Co. is an eclectic vegan café that serves up bowl, sandwiches, coffee, and more. The banh mi is regulary heralded as one of the best sandwiches in town, stacked with savory proteins from The Herbivorous Butcher, while the bowls are just as craveable. Choose a base of rice, spinach, or a half-and-half combo and load it up with bold flavors such as Kung Pao, Korean BBQ, and more. The donut case brings serious fun with rotating vegan and gluten-free options, and the killer coffee menu seals the deal. All of it unfolds in a cozy, 1 1/2 story house-turned-shop- dotted with Prince vintage comies, and nostalgic pop culture ephemera.
Moving to Rochester MN
NICOLE PIERSON DESIGN
Nicole Pierson Design provides client-focused, collaborative, full-service design customized to your project. From architectural planning, design, and construction documents to interiors and finish selections, Nicole and her team deliver innovative solutions to reflect you, your family, and your lifestyle.
Moving to Rochester MN
ROCHESTER CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS
At Rochester Chiropractic & Wellness, our mission is to help people understand the meaning of true health and to release the healing potential of the nervous system inside of you, your child, and your entire family.
We strive to serve each individual with the utmost love and passion that allows them to be the best version of themselves. Our mission is to inspire, educate, and impact our community to create a better future for every family. We serve our patients and community with high quality, affordable chiropractic care in a comfortable, caring and friendly environment.
Our doctors have a special passion for caring for women and children, but will take great care of your entire family! Check us out, you will be glad that you did!
