Population 67,917 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Rice County
Household size in Rice County
| Period | Rice County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.52 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.47 | 2.54 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.55 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Rice County run a little small, averaging 2.55 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has crept up from 2.50 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Rice County
| Period | Rice County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0 | 37.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.2 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.2 | 39.6 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.3 | 40.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.3 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
At 39.3, the median age in Rice County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.0, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Rice County
| Period | Rice County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 10.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 9.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Rice County (9.7%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Minnesota. The single-parent share is down 0.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Rice County
Renters in Rice County
| Period | Rice County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 24.6% | 27.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 28.4% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.7% | 27.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | +2.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Rice County is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 38.4% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 0.8 points, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Rice County
| Period | Rice County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 8.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.6% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Rice County: 7.6% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of Minnesota.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Rice County
| Period | Rice County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1973 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1974 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1975 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +5 | +6 |
Housing in Rice County leans a little older: the median home dates to 1975, against 1980 nationally. Minnesota as a whole looks much the same. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Rice County
| Period | Rice County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $770 | $882 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $811 | $953 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $991 | $1,099 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,181 | $1,404 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$411 | +$522 | +$606 |
Rent in Rice County runs $1,181 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $411 a month since 2006–10, up 53%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 29.8% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the northwest; the highest are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Rice County
Bachelor's degrees in Rice County
| Period | Rice County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.6% | 32.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.4% | 33.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.3% | 36.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 32.1% | 39.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +7.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Rice County than nationally: 32.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.5 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Rice County
| Period | Rice County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.8% | 91.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.4% | 92.2% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.4% | 93.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.7% | 93.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Rice County have finished high school (92.7%), above the national rate of 89.3%. Minnesota as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Rice County
| Period | Rice County | Minnesota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 6.5% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Rice County than nationally: unemployment was 4.3%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Rice County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice County | 2.55 | 39.3 | 9.7% | 23.7% | 7.6% | 1975 | $1,181 | 32.1% | 92.7% | 4.3% |
| Le Sueur County | 2.50 | 42.1 | 7.7% | 19.0% | 10.3% | 1974 | $1,047 | 26.3% | 94.4% | 4.1% |
| Goodhue County | 2.42 | 43.1 | 8.1% | 21.2% | 7.0% | 1973 | $1,060 | 27.9% | 93.3% | 3.7% |
| Nicollet County | 2.42 | 38.5 | 9.1% | 27.8% | 6.0% | 1981 | $1,052 | 36.8% | 95.1% | 2.1% |
| Wabasha County | 2.35 | 44.9 | 6.0% | 16.7% | 10.8% | 1975 | $887 | 26.9% | 94.9% | 2.2% |
| Brown County | 2.26 | 43.2 | 7.9% | 21.1% | 7.7% | 1961 | $885 | 25.7% | 92.9% | 2.8% |
| Buffalo County | 2.33 | 46.8 | 8.3% | 22.5% | 11.7% | 1967 | $945 | 22.0% | 92.6% | 2.9% |
| Trempealeau County | 2.48 | 39.7 | 8.5% | 26.0% | 6.3% | 1977 | $951 | 20.6% | 89.7% | 2.4% |
| Redwood County | 2.39 | 41.9 | 7.8% | 21.6% | 11.4% | 1964 | $821 | 22.2% | 93.6% | 2.5% |
| Jackson County | 2.46 | 43.7 | 9.5% | 19.9% | 15.3% | 1979 | $827 | 15.8% | 92.1% | 5.2% |
| Lyon County | 2.50 | 37.9 | 9.7% | 27.5% | 9.9% | 1971 | $813 | 30.8% | 92.0% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Walton County, FL · Chippewa County, WI · Christian County, KY · Clay County, MN · Coffee County, TN · Colbert County, AL · Columbia County, FL · Columbia County, NY · Columbia County, PA · Coos County, OR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Rice County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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