Rankings & Recognitions
Experience Rochester MN National Recognition
2025
Rochester is one of Forbes' Best Places to Retire in 2025.
Rochester is #27 Best Place to Live in the U.S. by Livability.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester is ranked #1 in the world by Newsweek for the seventh consecutive year in its list of the "World's Best Hospitals."
2024
Rochester ranked #30 Best Place to Live in the U.S. by Livability
Mayo Clinic in Rochester is ranked #1 in the world by Newsweek for the sixth consecutive year in its list of the "World's Best Hospitals."
Rochester ranks #2 Best City for Veterans to Live by Veterans United.
2023
Rochester ranked #3 Best Place to Live in the Midwest by Livability
Mayo Clinic in Rochester is ranked #1 in the world by Newsweek in its list of the "World's Best Hospitals."
2022
Rochester ranks in the 7 Most Beautiful Cities in Minnesota by WorldAtlas
Rochester ranked #3 Best Place to Live in the U.S. by Livability
Rochester ranked #33 Best Place to Live in the U.S. by Niche.com
2021
Rochester is a 2021 Bloomberg Global Mayors Challenge Champion City
Mayo Clinic ranked No. 1 "Best Hospital" nationwide by U.S. News & World Report in its 2021-2022 "Best Hospitals" rankings, for the sixth consecutive year.
2021-2026 Runner Friendly Community
Olmsted County's Ear of Corn Water Tower named Tnemec's Tank of the Year "People's Choice" winner in 2021
2020
#1 Most Livable Mid-Sized City - SmartAsset
#5 'Top 100 Best Places to Live' 2020 - Livability.com
Transit System of the Year - Minnesota Public Transit Association
Mayo Clinic ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its "Best Hospitals 2020–2021" edition.
2019
#15 'Best Places to Live' 2019 - Money Magazine
#5 'Top 100 Best Places to Live' 2019 - Livability.com
Top 25 Convention Cities in the U.S.A. for 2019 - MeetingSource, a website for meeting planners
2018
Mayo Clinic ranked as Best Hospital 2017-18 by U.S. News & World Report. Also ranked Best Hospital in 2016-17.
#3 'America's Most Innovative Cities' 2018 - 24/7 Wall Street, a financial news and opinion website
2017
#1 ‘Top 100 Best Places to Live' 2017 + 2016 - Livability.com, a national website that ranks quality of life amenities of America's small and mid-sized cities.
#2 'Best Cities for Children' 2017 - SmartAsset, a website that provides personal finance advice and research
Minnesota is #3 in "America's Top States for Business 2017" by CNBC. Minnesota has placed in the Top Ten for nine of 11 years the study has been.
#5 '10 Best Cities for Living the American Dream' 2017 - SmartAsset, a website that provides personal finance advice and research
#9 ‘Top 50 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs' 2017 - Livability.com
#10 'Most Livable Mid-Sized Cities in the U.S,' 2017 - SmartAsset, a website that provides personal finance advice and research
‘One of the 10 Easiest Cities to Find a Job' 2017 - ZipRecruiter.com, a website for finding top jobs.
#23 ‘Top 100 Places for Business Travelers' 2017 in the US, for business climate, economic health, traveler leisure, and traveler commute convenience - Churchill Living, a company that provides comfortable, modern, temporary housing solutions at high level of service.
2016
#1 ‘The 25 Healthiest Cities in America' 2016 - 24/7 Wall St., a website that provides analysis and commentary for U.S. & global equity investors.
#1 ‘Best City for Women in the Workforce' 2016 - NerdWallet, a website offering financial tools and objective advice to help people understand their options and make the best possible decisions.
#1 'Best City for Working Women' 2016 - SmartAsset, a website that provides personal finance advice and research
#9 ‘America's Best Employers' - Mayo Clinic 2016 - Forbes.com, a global media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle.
‘Top 10 Affordable Places to Live' 2016 + 2015 - Livability.com
‘Top 50 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs' 2016 - Livability.com
Before 2016
‘Top 100 Best Places to Live' 2015 + 2014 - Livability.com
#1 out of 10 Happiest Mid-Sized Cities In America 2014 - Movoto.com, a full-service brokerage that handles every aspect of real estate.
#6 ‘10 Most Affordable Cities for Homebuyers' 2012 - CNNMoney.com, a website that covers everything from personal finance, autos and small business to the economy, markets and innovation.
#6 ‘10 Best Cities for the Next Decade' 2010 - Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine
#12 ‘Best Towns in America for Hunters and Fisherman' 2010 - Outdoor Life Magazine