Rochester gained its name from the English village also known as Rochester in Somerset County, United Kingdom. The season four finale of "Supernatural," a popular television show, was shot in a fictional church at Rochester.
Rochester is a census-designated yet unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland. According to the 2010 census, the population was 23,476. The mill community of Rochester is situated along the Patapsco River. However, the current census-designated place (CDP) includes the suburban terrain of Howard County, which lies outside the Patapsco River Valley. The main local road that runs through the CDP is Maryland Route 103, Montgomery Road. Through the southern part of Rochester, Maryland Route 100 intersects with Interstate 95. While the average Rochester temperature is 55.1 degrees, the area enjoys a July average high of 87.4 degrees and a January low of 23.5 degrees.
Moving to Rochester
How Much Will it Cost
The cost of living in Rochester, MD, is substantially higher than that of the rest of state of Maryland, and higher than the rest of the country.
When to Begin Looking
Rochester is fairly sparse in terms of renting apartments. As such, it's wise to allow six weeks at the very least for your search.
What You Need
Renting in Rochester involves pretty much the same process as renting in other parts of the country. If you're looking to rent in Rochester, you'll need to provide evidence of current employment status in addition to your present income. Further, you'll possibly be asked to provide details of your previous three tenancy agreements as references. The largest security deposit that a landlord can ask you to pay is equivalent to two months' rental, although the equivalent of a single month's rental deposit is more common. If you do have pets, you may also be required to pay a pet deposit, which covers any likelihood for damage to the property due to your pet's propensity for any "miscreant" conduct.
Places to Live in Rochester (Or Just Outside)
You may be hard-pressed to rent an apartment in Rochester. There's few to be had, and the same can be said with respect to finding a house to rent. That's not to say there's nothing available in the area, however. There are plenty of rental condos and furnished apartments for rent in towns and cities that are situated very close by. Take Ellicott City, for example, or Woodstock. You'll find a plethora of luxury apartments and much more in these locations. Or, check out Catonsville, approximately 3.2 miles from Rochester, which is around nine minutes away by car.
Life in Rochester
Getting Around
Rochester is surrounded by plenty of small towns and is approximately 13 miles from the city of Baltimore, which is a 25-minute drive. For those who need to travel further afield, Baltimore / Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is a mere hop, skip and jump from Rochester, located some 7.3 miles away. The nearest train station (run by Amtrak) to Rochester is about seven miles by road and is located beside the airport.
Keeping Busy
For those who are more inclined to energetic sporting activities, Rochester offers the pursuit of rock climbing. Not for the faint of heart, of course, as the endeavor can be a rather tricky affair. If this is your thing, then head on over to Patapsco State Park through the small town of Catonsville, where you'll be able to partake in nine different rock climbs if you're fully up to it. If you've never tried rock climbing previously, then you perhaps should opt for the Beginner's Corner route, which is supposedly, as the name would suggest, more suited to the novice climber.
For those with a more leisurely appetite for life, there are plenty of good restaurants in the vicinity for you to sink your teeth into. Quite a number of them are merely a couple of minutes drive from Rochester central, including Panera Bread at Dobbin Center, which, as you might have already guessed, sells fresh breads, pastries and sandwiches, either eat-in or take-out. Then, there's Eggspectation on University Blvd near Ellicott City, which offers pasta, chicken, sandwiches, crepes and a bunch of other delicious goodies besides.
If you enjoy a bit of live entertainment while you fill your face, check out Ale House Columbia on Dobbin Center Way in the town of Columbia. They also have some 30 different beers on tap as well, which is a pretty impressive number. Then, in the heart of Ellicott City (which again is only a few miles drive from Rochester), there's Ellicott Mills Brewing Company. But it's not merely an establishment for folks to just sip on alcoholic beverages. The chef offers an eclectic range of cuisines from American-style grill to dishes with a more European feel.
For the hiking fraternity, Patapsco State Park offers a variety of hikes, which range from easy 1.2 mile-long affairs to difficult 16.7-mile contributions.