Rice County, Kansas Income Statistics
Rice County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Rice County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rice County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $62,898 | $74,287 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,146 | $56,052 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.8% | 4.1% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.9% | 11.3% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.7% | 9.6% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rice County is about 15% lower than in Kansas. Income has been growing slower in Rice County (3.8%/yr) than in Kansas (4.1%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Rice County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Kansas average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Rice County, Kansas grew by 47.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $62,898 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rice County
| Metric | Rice County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.521 | 0.525 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,299 | $65,134 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,860 | $51,314 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 26.0% | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Rice County, it is 0.521, about the same as Kansas's 0.525, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 35% more than women's income in Rice County, Kansas. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $540,365 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rice County, Kansas has widened from about 20% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2013, and was narrowest at 18% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,296 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Rice County widened by 6.0 points while Kansas's narrowed by 3.4 points.
Employment
| Metric | Rice County | Kansas Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 6.0% | 11.8% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 17 | 22 |
Approximately 207 people are unemployed in Rice County, Kansas.
The average commute time in Rice County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Kansas.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rice County, Kansas has fallen from 6.3% to 4.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.0% in 2014 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2023.
Rice County, KS Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Rice County, KS is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 9,350 residents against a local median of 25,097. Rice County, KS's unemployment, at 4.4%, runs 71% above the 2.6% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.0% on unemployment, so Rice County, KS sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Rice County, KS has the 6th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice County, KS | 9,350 | $62,898 #4/6 | 3.8%/yr #4/6 | 4.4% #6/6 | 0.521 #4/6 |
| Ellsworth County, KS | 6,360 | $66,040 | 4.1%/yr | 2.6% | 0.523 |
| Reno County, KS | 61,553 | $60,794 | 3.6%/yr | 3.9% | 0.512 |
| McPherson County, KS | 30,205 | $78,479 | 4.1%/yr | 1.8% | 0.526 |
| Barton County, KS | 25,097 | $58,469 | 3.6%/yr | 3.9% | 0.506 |
| Stafford County, KS | 3,978 | $63,362 | 3.9%/yr | 2.5% | 0.490 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rice County, Kansas has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Kansas, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rice County, Kansas.
How Rich Is Rice County, Kansas?
Rice County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $62,898, about 15% lower than the Kansas average of $74,287.
How fast is household income rising in Rice County, Kansas?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rice County, Kansas rose 48%, from $42,607 to $62,898. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Kansas as a whole: +48% against +53%.
What was the median household income in Rice County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rice County, Kansas was $63,764, up 8% from $58,843 in 2022. The Kansas median that year was $72,660.
What was the median household income in Rice County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rice County, Kansas was $49,669. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $62,898.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rice County, Kansas?
The Gini coefficient in Rice County is 0.521. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Rice County, Kansas?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rice County, Kansas has widened from about 20% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2013, and was narrowest at 18% in 2010. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $8,296 since 2009.
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