ZIP Code · MN

ZIP 55901

Part of Rochester, MN

Pop. 58,495·Olmsted County·79th most expensive ZIP in Minnesota

Median rent (all units)

$1,554/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.9%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$378

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 55901 · $1,554

More affordable than 69% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,160

1 BR

$1,240

2 BR

$1,470

3 BR

$2,040

4 BR+

$2,470

Research median

$1,470/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in ZIP 55901 usually run 1.2% below trend in January and 1.2% above it in May, about $37 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 55901 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of Minnesota

Rent in ZIP 55901 changed +1.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 102 Minnesota ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 55901 rose 26.5% while median household income rose 28.2% ($73,815 to $94,607). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 55901 is 34.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($94,607) is $2,365 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,040); a 4-bedroom is $2,470.

Rank in Rochester

2nd cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Rochester.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 55901. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,648/yr

At $1,554/mo median

Location

CityRochester

StateMN

CountyOlmsted County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.9% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 55901 (Rochester, MN) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 51.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

58,495

Median income

$94,607

Median age

34.7

Renters

35.7%

Age distribution

24.2%

26.1%

23.7%

16%

Under 1824.2%

18–3426.1%

35–5423.7%

55–6410%

65+16%

Gender

48.1%

51.9%

Male48.1%

Female51.9%

Race & ethnicity

72.4%

White72.4%

Black11.3%

Hispanic4.9%

Asian8%

Other3.5%

Education (25+)

17.7%

26.1%

51.1%

No HS diploma5.1%

HS diploma17.7%

Some college26.1%

Bachelor's+51.1%

Housing tenure

64.3%

35.7%

Owner64.3%

Renter35.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 55901 in Rochester, MN has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,218 → $1,554

up 27.6%

Income

$79,486 → $94,607

up 19.0%

Population

57,080 → 58,495

up 2.5%

Renter share

34.9% → 35.7%

+0.8 pts

Bachelor's+

47.6% → 51.1%

+3.5 pts

Median age

34 → 34.7

+0.7 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 55901 in Rochester, MN has climbed from $1,218 to $1,554, a 27.6% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $94,607 today, compared with $79,486 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.5% since 2021, moving from about 57,080 residents to roughly 58,495. College-educated residents now make up 51.1% of adults here, versus 47.6% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 55901

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 55901 covers Rochester, MN. The median rent here is $1,554/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,240/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,470/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($94,607/yr), ZIP 55901 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 55901?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,554/mo in ZIP 55901. The local median household income is $94,607/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 55901?

Rent in ZIP 55901 has risen 1.9% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 55901?

Asking rents in ZIP 55901 are usually lowest in January, about 1.2% below their yearly trend, and highest in May, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $37 a month. This pattern comes from 9 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 55901?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 55901 rose 26.5% while median household income rose 28.2%, from $73,815 to $94,607. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 55901 compare to other ZIPs in Minnesota?

ZIP 55901 is in the middle among Minnesota ZIP codes for rent, ranking #79 of 123 at $1,554/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 55901 changed +1.9%, against a typical +3.4% across the 102 Minnesota ZIP codes Zillow tracks.