Rice County, Kansas Demographics 2026
Rice County, Kansas has a population of 9,350, the 41st most populous county in Kansas. The median household income is $63,925 and the median home value is $104,600. The poverty rate is 7.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Rice County Quick Facts
How Rice County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,389 | 9,350 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | $63,947 | $63,925 | -0.0% |
| Median home value | $105,500 | $104,600 | -0.9% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 45 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Rice County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyons | 3,553 | $62,569 | 9.1% | $104,800 |
| Sterling | 2,411 | $54,922 | 5.7% | $133,000 |
| Chase | 490 | $59,375 | 13.7% | $75,300 |
| Little River | 402 | $66,667 | 4.4% | $116,100 |
| Geneseo | 213 | $46,563 | 15.0% | $44,700 |
| Bushton | 201 | $38,958 | 8.0% | $47,300 |
| Raymond | 109 | $56,250 | 22.0% | $56,100 |
| Alden | 87 | $39,375 | 28.9% | $55,000 |
| Frederick | 40 | $38,831 | 0.0% | $65,000 |
Explore Kansas Rankings
Population Overview
Rice County is located in Kansas with a total population of 9,350. It is the 41st most populous county out of 105 in Kansas. The county encompasses 9 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Rice County is 38.6 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 37.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Rice County is $63,925. This is 14% lower than the state median of $74,275. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.7%. This is 31% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.3%. The unemployment rate is 4.4%. This is 12% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $104,600. Housing costs are 52% lower than the state median of $217,200. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Rice County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 67.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Rice County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 14.0%. The Black or African American population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Asian population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 2.9%.
Education
25.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 35.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Rice County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Kansas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Rice County, Kansas?
Rice County has a population of 9,350, making it the 41st most populous county in Kansas.
What is the median income in Rice County?
The median household income in Rice County is $63,925 with a poverty rate of 7.7%.
How many cities are in Rice County, Kansas?
Rice County contains 9 Census-designated places.