Rochester, MN vs Duluth, MN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Duluth, MN outspends Rochester, MN by a wide margin per resident — $32,786 versus $13,796, a 138% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Rochester, MN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 86/100 (grade A) against 30/100 (grade F) for Duluth, MN — a 56-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Rochester, MN carries the lighter load at $573 per resident versus $1,961 for Duluth, MN. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Rochester, MN at $1,257 per resident and in Duluth, MN at $4,217.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 21% of total revenue in Rochester, MN and 32% in Duluth, MN.
Summary
Duluth spends 57.9% more per capita than Rochester ($18,991/person difference). Rochester, MN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 86/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $1,144 | $1,363 |
| Sales Tax | $1,029 | $2,261 |
| Intergovernmental | $120 | $1,348 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,283 | $2,388 |
| Other | $6,193 | $4,697 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $445 | $465 |
| Public Welfare | $1,563 | $1,859 |
| Health | $673 | $530 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $1,029 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,257 | $4,217 |
| Housing | $3,160 | $3,654 |
| Utilities | $957 | $1,313 |
| Interest on Debt | $971 | $3,181 |
| Other | $4,771 | $16,539 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.