Rice County, Minnesota Demographics 2026

Rice County, Minnesota has a population of 67,389, the 14th most populous county in Minnesota. The median household income is $82,792 and the median home value is $298,500. The poverty rate is 9.3%.

Rice County Quick Facts

Population 67,389

Median Household Income $82,792

Median Home Value $298,500

Poverty Rate 9.3%

Unemployment Rate 4.6%

Median Age 37.1 years

Homeownership Rate 75.9%

Affordability Ratio 3.6x

Bachelor's Degree+ 29.7%

High School Graduation 93.0%

Cities/Places 7

Population 67,389 14th of 87

Median Income $82,792 5% lower state

Poverty Rate 9.3%

Unemployment 4.6%

Median Household Income

Rice

$82,792

$87,556

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Rice

$298,500

$305,500

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 12.8%

$25K-$50K 16.5%

$50K-$100K 29.3%

$100K+ 41.4%

Employment

4.6% Unemployment Rate State: 3.9% | National: 5.2%

64.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 75.9%

Renter 24.1%

Affordability Index Affordable

3.6x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

21.6%

18-34

25.6%

35-54

24.0%

55-74

22.3%

75+

6.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 40 | National average: 60

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Rice County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Faribault city	24,458	$61,662	15.9%	$233,900
Northfield city	20,678	$92,000	7.2%	$305,300
Lonsdale city	4,789	$91,719	1.4%	$327,100
Dundas city	1,882	$111,250	2.4%	$293,400
Morristown city	982	$74,479	10.7%	$175,600
Dennison city	214	$51,250	3.7%	$215,600
Nerstrand city	210	$83,125	9.5%	$194,000

Explore Minnesota Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Rice County is located in Minnesota with a total population of 67,389. It is the 14th most populous county out of 87 in Minnesota. The county encompasses 7 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Rice County is 37.1 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Rice County is $82,792. This is 5% lower than the state median of $87,556. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 5% higher. The poverty rate stands at 9.3%. This is 1% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.2%. The unemployment rate is 4.6%. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 3.9%. The median home value is $298,500. Housing costs are 2% lower than the state median of $305,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.6x. 75.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 72.4%.

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 10.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (10.2% vs 6.2%). The Asian population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 5.0%.

Education

29.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 24% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 93.0%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Rice County, Minnesota?

Rice County has a population of 67,389, making it the 14th most populous county in Minnesota.

What is the median income in Rice County?

The median household income in Rice County is $82,792 with a poverty rate of 9.3%.

How many cities are in Rice County, Minnesota?

Rice County contains 7 Census-designated places.