What a Rochester house pays
Property tax, water, trash and energy from public rates. Look up your address to make it yours, and see how to pay less.
Sent only to free public map services to find who serves it. Not stored unless you save your house.
Starts at the typical market value, $310,500; your assessed value is often lower. Typical use.
- Property tax$4,130
1.683% of $310,500, less $18,605 homestead market value exclusion and less $500,000 for class 1a residential homestead property, the 1.25% class rate applies only to market value above $500,000
- Electricity and gas$1,985
557 kWh a month $1,265 · 61.79 therms $720
- Water and sewer$1,031
9 units (CCF) a month on Rochester Public Utilities (main system): water $25, sewer $58, service assured repair coverage, water and electric (opt-out) $3 a month
- TrashNot included
Garbage service is through a licensed hauler; no hauler price and no stormwater fee are included in the totals
- Home insurance$1,774
Typical premium $1,774
A Rochester house at the typical market value ($310,500) pays about $8,900 a year: $4,130 property tax and charges, $1,030 water and sewer, $1,990 electricity and gas, $1,770 home insurance; trash is billed separately. Estimated from public rates, not anyone's actual bill.
Rates checked Oct 22, 2026. Insurance: what you enter, or a typical premium until you do. Sources are listed at the bottom.
Ways to pay less
Nothing here applies to every house automatically. These are worth checking:
Moved in this year? Apply for homestead by Dec. 31
Homestead lowers the taxable value of a home you own and live in. The homestead market value exclusion is 40% of value for homesteads valued at $95,000 or less (a maximum of $38,000), is reduced as values rise, and phases out at $517,200 or more.
How: Apply online or at Olmsted County Property Records & Licensing (151 4th Street SE); you must own and occupy the home as your main residence no later than December 31.
Claim the Minnesota property tax refund
Minnesota homeowners may get a Property Tax Refund based on their income and property taxes.
How: File with the Minnesota Department of Revenue by August 15 (you may file up to one year late).
Seniors 65+: defer part of your property tax
With the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral, the tax you pay is 3% of household income and the state pays the rest as a loan, repaid with interest when you sell or cancel.
How: You must be 65 or older (if married, the other spouse at least 62) with household income of $96,000 or less; apply by November 1.
Veterans with a 70%+ disability rating: market value exclusion$150,000 or $300,000 off market value
Honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher can exclude $150,000 of market value; a 100% permanent and total disability rating qualifies for $300,000.
How: Own and occupy a homesteaded property; Olmsted County applications are due by December 31, with a verification letter from the Veteran's Administration.
Blind or permanently disabled owners: lower class rate
Olmsted County's special homestead classification (class 1b) gives a reduced class rate on the homestead of a person who is blind or permanently and totally disabled.
How: Apply to Olmsted County Property Records & Licensing by October 1.
Income-eligible households: energy upgrades through 4U2 or EnergyWise Older Adults
RPU and Minnesota Energy Resources help income-eligible Rochester households with weatherization and efficient equipment; eligible improvements are generally covered by the two utilities.
How: Household income is one factor in eligibility; the 2026 guideline for Olmsted County is 80% of area median income (up to $106,800 for a household of 4). See the program applications for full requirements.
RPU Conserve & Save rebates on efficient equipmente.g. $400 heat pump water heater, $25 toilet
RPU pays rebates on heat pumps, smart thermostats, ENERGY STAR appliances and water-saving items such as high-efficiency toilets.
How: Submit an RPU rebate application; a heat pump water heater can earn $400 (20-55 gallon, up to 50% of cost).
LIHEAP households: Minnesota Energy Resources Gas Affordability Program
Residential customers who qualify for and receive LIHEAP energy assistance can get an affordability bill credit and arrearage forgiveness on their Minnesota Energy Resources gas bill.
How: The program is available to MERC residential customers who have been qualified and receive LIHEAP assistance.
Money dates
- Nov 1in 9 daysSeniors: last day to file for the property tax deferral for next year's tax
- Dec 31in 69 daysLast day to move into your home and file a homestead application with the assessor; also the last day for disabled veterans to apply for the value exclusion
- May 15First half of real property taxes due
- Aug 15Minnesota property tax refund due; you may still file up to one year late
Who serves this house
- Water
- Rochester Public Utilities (main system)
- Rochester Public Utilities, billed monthly; 2026 residential rate $12.75 monthly customer charge (5/8" meter), a $1.15 monthly fire hydrant facilities charge, and $1.166 per CCF for 0-7 CCF, $1.301 for 7.01-12 CCF and $1.486 over 12 CCF
- Property tax
- 1.68% of value
- Taxes payable 2025, Olmsted County (tax district 2303, Rochester City / School District 535)
- Garbage
- Licensed garbage haulers
- Garbage and recycling for Rochester residents are managed by Olmsted County; residential customers of garbage haulers pay the hauler, and the county Environmental Service Charge is itemized on that bill
- Sewer
- City of Rochester (Rochester Public Works)
- A Rochester Public Works charge on the RPU bill: a fixed monthly charge plus a quantity charge per Ccf, based on water use
- Electricity
- Rochester Public Utilities
- Rochester's municipally owned electric and water utility
- Gas
- Minnesota Energy Resources
- Natural gas; Rochester is on MERC's list of Minnesota cities served
- Schools
- Rochester Public Schools (ISD 535)
- Olmsted County tax district 2303 is Rochester City / School District 535
Your water
- Source
- Groundwater from twenty-nine wells, 389 to 981 feet deep, in the Jordan-Wonewoc, Prairie du Chien-Jordan, Prairie du Chien-Wonewoc, Jordan and Jordan-St. Lawrence aquifers
- Hardness
- 17 grains per gallon (280 ppm); RPU describes its water as "very hard"
- Lead
- 2025 tap tests: the 90% result was 7.46 ppb, 1 of 50 homes had a high level; some customer sample documentation was incomplete, and the report says firm lead levels cannot be established at this time, although available results were within regulatory limits
- PFAS
- PFOS highest average 1.95 ppt and PFOA 0.8 ppt, against EPA limits of 4.0 ppt each
Other MN cities
What a Apple Valley house paysWhat a Cottage Grove house paysWhat a Edina house paysWhat a Farmington house paysWhat a Lakeville house paysWhat a Little Falls house paysWhat a Maple Grove house paysWhat a Plymouth house paysWhat a Shoreview house paysWhat a Vadnais Heights house paysWhat a Woodbury house paysWhat a Andover house paysWhat a Shakopee house paysWhat a Champlin house paysWhat a Eagan house paysWhat a Otsego house paysWhat a Fairmont house paysWhat a Chanhassen house paysWhat a Maplewood house paysWhat a St. Michael house paysWhat a Inver Grove Heights house paysWhat a Forest Lake house paysWhat a Chaska house paysWhat a Burnsville house paysWhat a North Branch house paysWhat a Stillwater house paysWhat a Roseville house paysWhat a Buffalo house paysWhat a Victoria house paysWhat a Oakdale house paysWhat a Rosemount house paysWhat a Blaine house paysWhat a Hermantown house paysWhat a Columbia Heights house paysWhat a St. Cloud house paysWhat a Dayton house paysWhat a Elk River house paysWhat a New Brighton house paysWhat a Savage house paysWhat a Eden Prairie house paysWhat a Little Canada house paysWhat a North St. Paul house paysWhat a Mankato house paysWhat a Rogers house paysWhat a Anoka house paysWhat a East Bethel house paysWhat a Coon Rapids house paysWhat a Brooklyn Center house paysWhat a Crystal house paysWhat a Hutchinson house paysWhat a Richfield house pays
How these numbers are made
- Water: Rochester Public Utilities' 2026 residential rate for the main system: the $12.75 monthly customer charge for a 5/8" meter plus the $1.15 residential fire hydrant facilities charge ($13.90 fixed), then $1.166 per CCF up to 7 CCF, $1.301 from 7 to 12 CCF and $1.486 above. The rate sheet also lists a $1.27 State Mandated Water Charge without saying how often it is billed, so it is not included. RPU publishes no typical household use, so the page starts at 9 CCF a month. Homes in RPU's separate Meadowbrook and Sandy Slope systems may differ.
- Sewer: the City of Rochester's adopted 2026 rate, $19.40 a month plus $4.32 per Ccf, charged on the water use you enter. In practice April–December sewer is capped at your January–March average use, so summer lawn watering does not raise the sewer bill; the page does not model that cap, so summer sewer may read high. The RPU bill also carries a City stormwater utility fee (the city says the residential fee equals the base fee, billed monthly on RPU bills); the city's fee page gives no dollar amount, so stormwater is not included in the totals. The $3.00 a month Service Assured repair coverage (water and electric) is included because RPU applies it to every customer unless they opt out.
- Garbage: Rochester has no city garbage service; homes hire one of the haulers licensed by Olmsted County, which price by volume and add the county's environmental service charge. No hauler publishes a Rochester price, so no trash cost is included.
- Property tax: Olmsted County's pay-2025 rates for tax district 2303 (Rochester City / School District 535), the latest the county has posted: tax-capacity rates of 42.631818% (county; the county library levy does not apply in Rochester), 51.230477% (city), 18.237030% (school) and 1.721779% (county HRA), 113.821104% in all, plus market-value referendum rates of 0.249148% (school) and 0.010845% (city). The homestead market value exclusion comes off the tax-capacity parts, and a further 0.25% class rate applies above $500,000. Pay-2026 bills will differ (the county levy rose 6.80%, and the county says a $1.5 million 2026 levy error adds about $10 to $30 for most homeowners). The starting value is the Census median value of owner-occupied homes ($310,500, 2020–2024), not an assessor figure; enter the estimated market value from your notice.
- Electricity: Rochester Public Utilities' 2026 Residential Service customer charge ($24.44 a month) plus RPU's residential average retail energy rate of $0.14540 per kWh, which RPU computes from 2025 residential revenue (net of customer charges) over kWh sold and which therefore includes the Power Cost Adjustment and Clean Air Rider as billed. The 2026 base energy charges alone average about $0.134 per kWh year-round ((4 × $0.15074 + 8 × $0.12619) / 12), before those riders. Typical use is 557 kWh a month (RPU's 2025 residential average, as reported by the Post Bulletin). City, county and state sales taxes on the bill are not included.
- Gas: we assume Rochester homes are on Minnesota Energy Resources' GS-NNG rate (customers supplied by Northern Natural Gas). Fixed: the $9.50 customer charge (MERC's tariff lists no Rochester franchise fee); per therm, the $0.32919 distribution charge, $0.65533 base cost of gas, 2026 conservation adjustment ($0.00638), GUIC surcharge ($0.01620) and revenue decoupling adjustment ($0.01313), less the Purchase Gas Adjustment credit of $0.20277 from October 1, 2026 ($0.81746 in all); the adjustment changes monthly. Typical use is about 62 therms a month (EIA 2024 Minnesota residential use per customer). Insurance: the 2022 NAIC statewide average premium for Minnesota (HO-3), the newest figure published by the Insurance Information Institute.
- Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.
- City of Rochester garbage & recycling
- Olmsted County licensed waste haulers
- Olmsted County Environmental Service Charge (residential)
- RPU 2025 Consumer Confidence Report (main system)
- RPU: how to read your bill
- City of Rochester wastewater rates resolution 2022-2027
- RPU how to read your bill (PDF)
- RPU general information
- cities.pdf
- Olmsted County tax rate listing, pay 2025
- RPU 2026-2027 rate schedule
- RPU water quality
- City of Rochester wastewater page
- MN Revenue: classification of property
- MN Revenue: homestead market value exclusion
- Olmsted County: understanding property taxes
- Census ACS 2024 5-year (Census Reporter): Rochester median home value
- Post Bulletin: Rochester's power bills (Jan. 24, 2026)
- RPU Schedule 1: residential average retail energy rate
- ng_cons_sum_dcu_SMN_a.htm
- ng_cons_num_dcu_SMN_a.htm
- gs.pdf
- pga_rates.pdf
- conservation.pdf
- 7_infrastructure.pdf
- revenue.pdf
- Insurance Information Institute homeowners premiums
- MN Revenue property tax calendar
- Olmsted County homestead applications
- property-tax-refund
- filing-property-tax-refund
- property-tax-deferral-senior-citizens
- market-value-exclusion-veterans-disability
- RPU income-based programs
- RPU residential rebates
- gasp.pdf
- Olmsted County: paying property taxes
How Rochester compares
A typical Rochester house against the 35 Minnesota cities we cover, using the same default numbers as the total above.
| Per year | Rochester | Median | Where it falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property tax rate | 1.68% | 1.49% | higher than 29 of the other 33 Minnesota cities we cover |
| Water | $296 | $339 | lower than 24 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover |
| Sewer and utility-bill fees | $735 | $621 | higher than 25 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover |
| Electricity and gas | $1,985 | $2,150 | lower than 28 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover |
| Home insurance | $1,774 | $1,774 | in the middle of 34 other Minnesota cities we cover |
| Total | $8,920 | $9,536 | lower than 27 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover |
Cities bill differently (some put trash on the tax bill, some cover more services), so a higher number isn't necessarily worse. The property tax rate is compared instead of dollars because house values differ.
Questions to ask your candidates
Each one starts from a number above. Any candidate can answer them.
1. Property tax rate
The fact: Rochester's property tax rate is 1.68%, higher than 29 of the other 33 Minnesota cities we cover. The rate adds up every agency on the bill, not only the city.
Ask: "Property tax in Rochester is 1.68%, higher than 29 of the other 33 Minnesota cities we cover. What should that money pay for first, and would you change anything about how it is set?"
2. Electricity and gas
The fact: Electricity and gas for a typical house here cost about $1,985 a year, lower than 28 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover. Rates are set mostly by the utility and the state.
Ask: "Electricity and gas here cost about $1,985 a year for a typical house, lower than 28 of the other 34 Minnesota cities we cover. Which parts of that can the city influence, and what would you do about them?"
Common questions about Rochester house costs
What is the property tax rate in Rochester?
About 1.68% of the value before exemptions a year (Taxes payable 2025, Olmsted County (tax district 2303, Rochester City / School District 535)), plus flat charges on the same bill.
How much is property tax on a $500,000 house in Rochester?
About $6,973 a year on $500,000 of the value before exemptions with the homestead market value exclusion.
How much is the water bill in Rochester?
About $86 a month for water and sewer at typical use (9 units, or 6,732 gallons a month) on Rochester Public Utilities (main system).
How much does trash pickup cost in Rochester?
Garbage service is through a licensed hauler; no hauler price and no stormwater fee are included in the totals
When is property tax due in Rochester?
May 15: First half of real property taxes due Aug 15: Minnesota property tax refund due; you may still file up to one year late
Can seniors lower their property tax or bills in Rochester?
Yes. Seniors 65+: defer part of your property tax: With the Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral, the tax you pay is 3% of household income and the state pays the rest as a loan, repaid with interest when you sell or cancel.
Where can I get help paying utility bills in Rochester?
LIHEAP households: Minnesota Energy Resources Gas Affordability Program: Residential customers who qualify for and receive LIHEAP energy assistance can get an affordability bill credit and arrearage forgiveness on their Minnesota Energy Resources gas bill. The program is available to MERC residential customers who have been qualified and receive LIHEAP assistance.
How much does a house in Rochester cost to run each year?
A Rochester house at the typical market value ($310,500) pays about $8,900 a year: $4,130 property tax and charges, $1,030 water and sewer, $1,990 electricity and gas, $1,770 home insurance; trash is billed separately. Estimated from public rates, not anyone's actual bill.