Rankings & Recognitions
Experience Rochester MN National Recognition
2026
Rochester has been named No. 7 on Indeed’s inaugural Best Cities for Work national ranking.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester is ranked #1 in the world by Newsweek for the eighth consecutive year in its list of the "World's Best Hospitals."
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