Small Towns Around Rochester: Byron, Stewartville, Kasson, Pine Island and Oronoco

Byron, Stewartville, Kasson, Pine Island and Oronoco each offer small-town living within easy reach of Rochester. Here's how they compare.

Many people who work in Rochester choose to live just outside it. The surrounding towns offer their own main streets, school districts and community events, and most sit within a short drive of downtown. Olmsted County as a whole grew from 144,248 residents in 2010 to 162,847 in 2020, and the Census Bureau estimates 166,731 as of mid-2025. Here is a closer look at five communities our clients ask about.

Byron

Byron counted 6,312 residents in the 2020 Census, up from 4,914 in 2010, and the Census Bureau estimates 6,740 for 2025. About 83.2% of homes are owner-occupied, and the mean commute is 18.2 minutes. Outdoors-minded buyers like Byron's proximity to Olmsted County's Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo, which sits north of town with trails, Zumbro River access and a zoo devoted to Minnesota's native animals.

Stewartville

The city calls itself the second-largest city in Olmsted County. It was founded in 1857 as a small prairie village and grew with the railroad into a regional farming and industry center. Stewartville had 6,687 residents in 2020 and an estimated 6,850 in 2025, with an owner-occupied rate of 81.8%. The city sits less than a mile from Interstate 90 and US Highway 63 and points to hundreds of acres of parks, miles of trails, Bear Cave Park and a municipal aquatic center.

Kasson

Kasson sits on Highway 14, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation has carried out safety work along that corridor near Kasson and Dodge Center. The 2020 Census counted 6,851 residents, and the Census Bureau estimates 7,350 for 2025. Kasson has the highest owner-occupied rate of the towns here at 87.5%, with a mean commute of 24.5 minutes.

Pine Island

Pine Island marks the north end of the Douglas State Trail, which runs about 12.7 miles to northwest Rochester along a former railroad grade. The city has its own school district and a calendar of yearly events that includes the Pine Island Cheese Festival, Winterfest and a farmers market.

Oronoco

About 11 miles north of Rochester, Oronoco is home to Olmsted County's Lake Zumbro Park, with a two-lane motorized boat launch and a separate canoe and kayak launch. Buyers who want water nearby without leaving the Rochester area often start their search here.

Comparing at a glance

Byron: 2020 population 6,312; median owner-occupied home value $345,300 (2020-2024).
Stewartville: 2020 population 6,687; median owner-occupied home value $265,300.
Kasson: 2020 population 6,851; median owner-occupied home value $285,200.
Olmsted County overall: median owner-occupied home value $331,700.

Each of these figures comes from the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 estimates, so treat them as a starting point rather than today's price.

How David helps

Selling in a small town calls for a different playbook than selling in the city: the buyer pool, the commute question and the condition expectations all shift. David Olson, a Realtor and Broker, licensed general contractor and fourth-generation builder with 3,127 homes sold over more than 20 years, helps sellers in Byron, Stewartville, Kasson, Pine Island and Oronoco position their homes for buyers coming from Rochester and beyond. Call 952-314-9446 to talk strategy.

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.

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