Rochester's rural atmosphere that still offers access to amenities
Even though Rochester is just minutes from the towns of Waterford and Burlington, it shies away from city action and sticks squarely to a rural lifestyle. Its small downtown includes a handful of local restaurants, and the Fox River flows through town, offering plenty of outdoor opportunities, along with nearby nature preserves. Compared to the surrounding towns, properties are bigger around Rochester, offering more space and a more private setting. “It feels very rural, even though you’re so close to everything. You’re right between Waterford and Burlington, but you feel like you’re far, far away from everything,” says Renata Greeley, one of the top local Realtors with Shorewest Realtors. “Everything’s just stop signs. We don’t even have stop lights.” Still, Rochester’s proximity to the other Fox River towns means that anything its residents can’t find in Rochester, they can just take the quick drive to Burlington and Waterford to get what they need.
Country roads around Rochester reveal cornfields and big‑sky horizons.
DW Coffee anchors Rochester mornings with lattes, pastries, and local chatter.
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Small lots in town and sprawling acres along Rochester's limits
While Rochester attracts people for its more rural feel, not all of the community is entirely rural. Ranch-style homes, Nationals and bungalows line the town’s streets, close to the small downtown area. Some have sidewalks and driveways may have boats or basketball hoops in them. Some newer communities with New Traditionals have streets lined with young saplings and landscaped gardens. These homes typically range from $300,000 to $400,000. Beyond the town, the landscape fades into cornfields, where homes are more spread out. “When you’re in the town, that’s the most historic area, so it’s a city-sized lot,” Greeley says. “But spreading out, most of them are at least an acre.” Properties can reach up to 10 acres. More space means these residents have more freedom to add additional structures, like barns or pastures for horses. “We have a lot of pole buildings because in some of the areas like Waterford and Burlington, it’s hard to get pole buildings with the regulations,” Greeley says. These properties tend to range from $600,000 to $900,000.
Rochester transitions from village blocks to acre‑plus homes.
Rochester mixes vintage homes with modern updates on quiet streets.
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Kayaking on the Fox River and hiking along nearby nature preserves
The Fox River flows right through the center of downtown Rochester. “It’s goes to Waterford, where the dam stops it, and above the dam is where you can start boating,” Greeley says. “There’s kayak launches right in the downtown area in Rochester.” Fishing is also popular along the waterway. Case Eagle Park is the town’s largest park, spanning almost 240 acres, and includes baseball diamonds and a fenced-in dog park. Bikers can cut through the park on Seven Waters Trail and head up to Waterford or down to Burlington. Green spaces like Saller Woods, Cherry Lake Sedge Meadow State Natural Area and Honey Creek Wildlife Area all offer hiking, though hunting is permitted in Cherry Lake and birdwatching is popular in Honey Creek.
The Fox River frames Rochester with calm water, fishing spots, and shaded banks.
Kate Shaffer Riverview Park is situated right along the Fox River.
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Historic restaurants, converted cafes and bars with unique themes
Right in downtown, Chances Food and Spirits might’ve only opened a couple decades ago, but the building is from 1843. “It’s on the historic register and there’s talk of ghosts walking upstairs where the old dance floor was,” Greeley says. It serves American fare, from burgers and ribs to steak and seafood. Housed in an old bank building, DW Coffee is now the town’s café. It turned the old bank’s drive through into an outdoor seating area, where people can sip their seasonal coffee flights. On the far northeastern side of town, Bunker Bar is a military-themed bar opened by Vietnam veterans. It takes the theme seriously, where visitors are greeted by the airplanes, helicopter and tank outside. Rochester doesn’t have any grocery stores. Instead, locals can drive about 2 miles to Waterford’s Pick ‘n Save or 3 miles to Burlington’s Walmart Supercenter and Aldi.
Veteran‑owned Bunker Bar brings military history to Rochester’s edge.
DW Coffee anchors Rochester mornings with lattes, pastries, and local chatter.
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Getting to nearby Burlington and Waterford from Rochester
Thoroughfares like Browns Lake Drive and Milwaukee Avenue connect Rochester to Waterford, about 2 miles north, and Burlington, about 6 miles south. Aurora Medical Center Burlington is also about 6 miles south. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is about 24 miles away. Branching out from downtown, routes lined with cornfields link the town with the more rural parts of the community. “You’ve got some rustic roads, and you’ll see people taking leisurely drives to look at the big oak trees,” Greeley says.
Milwaukee's Mitchell Airport is the nearest airport to Rochester.
Aurora Health Care brings hundreds of jobs to the area.
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Attending Waterford's and Burlington's public schools
Rochester’s location between the two towns means that students are also split between their respective school districts. Most of the town heads to Waterford’s school districts. Waterford Graded School District serves grades kindergarten through eighth. As of right now, zones divide attendance to the different schools, but an addendum passed to have the schools serve different grade levels rather than areas. This district feeds into Waterford Union High School District, which just includes the one high school. Both districts receive A-minus ratings from Niche. Students on Rochester’s southern side head to Burlington Area School District, which receives a B-plus. Students here can apply to host exchange students.
Woodfield Elementary School is a public school located in Waterford.
Waterford High School is part of Wisconsin's Waterford Union School District.
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Written By
Caroline Ernst
Photography Contributed By
Austin Lewis
Video By
Bill Jennings
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This is your opportunity to position your business in one of the fastest growing commercial locations in the area. The Village welcomes your business ideas. This formally underutilized Hwy 36 corridor situated between Muskego to the north and Burlington to the south is quickly developing. Waterford's population is projected by urban consultants to continue significant growth. The daily traffic
This is your opportunity to position your business in one of the fastest growing commercial locations in the area. The Village welcomes your business ideas. This formally underutilized Hwy 36 corridor situated between Muskego to the north and Burlington to the south is quickly developing. Waterford's population is projected by urban consultants to continue significant growth. The daily traffic
This is your opportunity to position your business in one of the fastest growing commercial locations in the area. The Village welcomes your business ideas. This formally underutilized Hwy 36 corridor situated between Muskego to the north and Burlington to the south is quickly developing. Waterford's population is projected by urban consultants to continue significant growth. The daily traffic
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