Moving to Rochester for a Mayo Clinic Career

Relocating to Rochester for Mayo Clinic? A friendly guide to the campus, commute, neighborhoods and nearby towns to help you settle in faster.

For many families, a move to Rochester starts with a job offer from Mayo Clinic. It is a big change, and usually a fast one. The good news is that Rochester is a manageable city to learn, with short commutes, plenty of green space and a deep medical community. Here is what we tell newcomers.

A city shaped by medicine

The story goes back to 1864, when Dr. William Worrall Mayo moved his family to Rochester. After a tornado struck the city in August 1883, the need for a local hospital became clear, and Saint Marys Hospital opened in fall 1889 with 27 beds. Mayo Clinic describes that hospital as a joint project between the Sisters of Saint Francis and the Mayo brothers and their father. Today the Saint Marys campus has 1,265 beds and 70 operating rooms and is one of two Mayo Clinic hospitals in Rochester. It sits roughly ten blocks west of the central business district.

Downtown landmarks

Downtown, the Plummer Building opened in 1928. Its 15 stories and 56-bell carillon are a Rochester landmark, and it is designated a National Historic Landmark. Its third-floor Historical Suite is open for self-guided tours on weekdays, a nice first outing for new arrivals.

A growing downtown

Destination Medical Center is a 20-year economic development initiative that state officials authorized after determining in 2013 there was a compelling interest in public investment in Rochester. The $5.6 billion plan is described as the largest in Minnesota's history and aims to create more than 30,000 new jobs.

Commute and housing basics

Rochester's mean commute is 17.4 minutes (Census, 2020-2024).
About 65.1% of homes are owner-occupied, and the median owner-occupied home value was $310,500.
Rochester is about 85 miles south of Minneapolis.
About 50.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

City or small town?

Some newcomers want to walk to work or to Silver Lake's 1.8-mile loop. Others prefer a small town such as Byron, Stewartville, Kasson or Pine Island, where owner-occupied rates run above 80% and mean commutes range from about 18 to 25 minutes. There is no wrong answer, only the right fit for your schedule.

Education and training nearby

The University of Minnesota Rochester, founded in 2006, sits downtown and partners with the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences on its Bachelor of Science in Health Professions. Rochester Community and Technical College and Winona State University-Rochester share a campus in southeast Rochester, where nursing students train in simulation labs.

Make a short list before you visit

Map your shift schedule against drive times from each area.
Decide how much yard, garage and storage space a Minnesota winter calls for.
Note which trails and parks matter most to your household.

How David helps

Many relocating families also have a home to sell somewhere else, or will sell their Rochester home when the next opportunity comes. David Olson is a Realtor and Broker, a licensed general contractor and a fourth-generation builder with 3,127 homes sold over more than 20 years. He helps you buy with resale in mind, spots construction issues before they become your problem, and gives sellers a clear, honest plan. Call 952-314-9446 to get started.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm details for a specific property with the local office that has authority there.

Thinking about selling your Rochester home?
You don’t have to figure it out alone. David will listen, explain your options and guide you through every step, from pricing to closing. Call or text 952-314-9446.
Talk with David