Rochester, MN vs St. Paul, MN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
St. Paul, MN outspends Rochester, MN by a wide margin per resident — $22,552 versus $13,796, a 63% 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 55/100 (grade C) for St. Paul, MN — a 31-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Rochester, MN carries the lighter load at $573 per resident versus $2,026 for St. Paul, 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 St. Paul, MN at $2,137.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Rochester, MN at 21% of total revenue, whereas St. Paul, MN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 18%.
Summary
St. Paul spends 38.8% more per capita than Rochester ($8,756/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 | $130 |
| Sales Tax | $1,029 | $1,463 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $27 |
| Intergovernmental | $120 | $6,526 |
| Charges & Fees | $1,283 | $2,727 |
| Other | $6,193 | $4,806 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $445 | $503 |
| Public Welfare | $1,563 | $1,730 |
| Health | $673 | $663 |
| Hospitals | $0 | $3,391 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,257 | $2,137 |
| Housing | $3,160 | $4,835 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $367 |
| Utilities | $957 | $2,294 |
| Interest on Debt | $971 | $0 |
| Other | $4,771 | $6,632 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.