Rice County, MN 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 | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 67,678 | 5,674,785 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 131.3 | 65.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.49% | 0.66% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 35.3 | 36.9 | 37.1 |
| Households | 23,345 | 2,271,841 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Rice County grew by 8.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 67,389 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Rice County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Rice County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $83,986 | $88,383 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.55% | 4.81% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 3.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Rice County is about 5% lower than in Minnesota.
Housing
| Metric | Rice County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $242,856 | $243,729 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,045 | $1,234 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 75.9% | 72.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Rice County is about 19.4 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,045 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Rice County spend about 35 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 148 hours, about 6.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Rice County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.7 | 20.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 35.5 | 41.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 148 | 172 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,585 | $5,323 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 15.9% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 5,767 | 7,066 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 716 | 854 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Minnesota:
Cook County (10.7 min), Pennington County (10.9 min), Brown County (10.9 min).
Slowest:
Chisago County (30.7 min), Wright County (30.3 min), Sherburne County (30.2 min).
The average commute time in Rice County is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Minnesota.
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 C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | Rice County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 35.5% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.54 | 2.44 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Minnesota:
Hennepin County (0.4), Olmsted County (0.4), Carver County (0.4).
Lowest:
Nobles County (0.2), Mahnomen County (0.2), Watonwan County (0.2).
Health
Rice County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Rice County | Minnesota Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.3 | 80.8 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 11.3% | 13.0% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.1% | 18.5% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Minnesota:
Carver County (0.8), Washington County (0.8), Stevens County (0.8).
Lowest:
Mahnomen County (0.8), Clearwater County (0.8), Beltrami County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Rice County, Minnesota.
What is the population of Rice County, Minnesota?
The population of Rice County, Minnesota is 67,678, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Rice County, Minnesota?
The population density of Rice County, Minnesota is 131.3 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, Minnesota?
The median household income in Rice County, Minnesota is $83,986, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Rice County, Minnesota?
The median home price in Rice County, Minnesota is $242,856, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Rice County, Minnesota?
The unemployment rate in Rice County, Minnesota is 4.6%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.