Rice County, KS Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Rice County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,364 | 2,919,756 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 12.9 | 35.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.82% | 0.18% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.3 | 38.6 | 37.1 |
| Households | 3,694 | 1,159,797 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Rice County declined by 7.5% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 9,389 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Rice County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Rice County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,764 | $72,682 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.59% | 4.34% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Rice County is about 12% lower than in Kansas.
Housing
| Metric | Rice County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $14,399 | $104,507 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $717 | $1,029 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 77.1% | 66.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Rice County is about 1.7 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $717 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Rice County spend about 30 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 125 hours, about 5.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Rice County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 15.0 | 17.3 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 30.1 | 34.6 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 125 | 144 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,886 | $4,466 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 10.7% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,149 | 4,500 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 703 | 662 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Kansas:
Greeley County (7.1 min), Cheyenne County (7.2 min), Graham County (7.4 min).
Slowest:
Miami County (30.5 min), Jefferson County (28.2 min), Osage County (28.0 min).
The average commute time in Rice County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Kansas.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Rice County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Rice County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.7% | 31.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.37 | 2.45 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Kansas:
Johnson County (0.4), Douglas County (0.4), Riley County (0.3).
Lowest:
Seward County (0.2), Grant County (0.2), Kearny County (0.2).
Health
Rice County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Rice County | Kansas Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.6 | 78.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 14.4% | 15.3% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 18.2% | 18.7% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Kansas:
Johnson County (0.8), Riley County (0.8), Douglas County (0.8).
Lowest:
Wyandotte County (0.8), Woodson County (0.8), Chautauqua County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Rice County, Kansas.
What is the population of Rice County, Kansas?
The population of Rice County, Kansas is 9,364, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Rice County, Kansas?
The population density of Rice County, Kansas is 12.9 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Rice County, Kansas?
The median household income in Rice County, Kansas is $63,764, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Rice County, Kansas?
The median home price in Rice County, Kansas is $14,399, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Rice County, Kansas?
The unemployment rate in Rice County, Kansas is 3.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.