Rochester, MN vs Plymouth, MN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Rochester, MN spends 55% more per resident than Plymouth, MN: $13,796 against $8,877. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Rochester, MN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 86/100 (grade A) against 69/100 (grade B) for Plymouth, MN — a 17-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Plymouth, MN carries the lighter load at $222 per resident versus $573 for Rochester, 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 Plymouth, MN at $1,549.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Rochester, MN at 21% of total revenue, whereas Plymouth, MN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Rochester spends 55.4% more per capita than Plymouth ($4,919/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 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $1,029 | $613 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $149 |
| Intergovernmental | $120 | $7,979 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,283 | $1,754 |
| Other | $6,193 | $1,884 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $445 | $311 |
| Public Welfare | $1,563 | $820 |
| Health | $673 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $345 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,257 | $1,549 |
| Housing | $3,160 | $2,036 |
| Utilities | $957 | $904 |
| Interest on Debt | $971 | $631 |
| Other | $4,771 | $2,281 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.