Rice County, Kansas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Rice County is located in Kansas with a total population of 9,389. It is the 42nd most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 2 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rice County is 39.0 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 37.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rice County is $63,947. This is 12% lower than the state median of $72,639. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 19% lower. The poverty rate stands at 7.4%. This is 36% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 3.4%. This is 14% lower than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $105,500. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $203,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Rice County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 66.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Rice County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 78.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 13.7%. The Black or African American population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.

Education

24.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.9%.