Rice County, MN

County

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2024 Population

67,917

US Senator

Amy Klobuchar

Democratic(DFL) Party

US Senator

Tina Smith

Democratic(DFL) Party

2024 Poverty Rate

10.2%

9.75% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$83,181

0.47% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$320,200

7.27% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

33,751

0.485% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Rice County, MN reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

94.5% of the residents in Rice County, MN are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Rice County, MN are St Olaf College (926 degrees awarded in 2023) and Carleton College (557 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Rice County, MN was $320,200, and the homeownership rate was 76.3%.

Most people in Rice County, MN drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 21.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Rice County, MN was 2 cars per household.

Rice County, MN borders Dakota County, MN, Dodge County, MN, Goodhue County, MN, Le Sueur County, MN, Scott County, MN, Steele County, MN, and Waseca County, MN.

United States Minnesota Faribault-Northfield, MN

Population & Diversity

Rice County, MN is home to a population of 67.9k people, from which 94.5% are citizens. As of 2024, 8.65% of Rice County, MN residents were born outside of the country (5.88k people).

In 2024, there were 11.4 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (52.4k people) in Rice County, MN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 4.58k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 2.85k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

94.5%

2024 Citizenship

94.1%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 94.5% of Rice County, MN residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Rice County, MN was 94.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Rice County, MN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Rice County, MN

White (Non-Hispanic)
52.4k ± 245
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
4.58k ± 235
Other (Hispanic)
2.85k ± 516

10.5%

Hispanic Population

7.11k people

10.5% of the people in Rice County, MN are hispanic (7.11k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Rice County, MN as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Minnesota.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
58,764 ± 5,921 people
Somalia
36,253 ± 4,660 people
India
31,836 ± 4,368 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Minnesota was Mexico, the natal country of 58,764 Minnesota residents, followed by Somalia with 36,253 and India with 31,836.

Foreign-Born Population

8.65%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

5.88k people

8.68%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

5.85k people

As of 2024, 8.65% of Rice County, MN residents (5.88k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Rice County, MN was 8.68%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Rice County, MN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
997 ± 190
Gulf War (1990s)
602 ± 193
Gulf War (2001-)
582 ± 140

Rice County, MN has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.66 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Rice County, MN.

Economy

The economy of Rice County, MN employs 33.8k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Rice County, MN were Manufacturing (5,305 people), Educational Services (5,257 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (4,474 people), and the highest paying industries were Utilities ($120,598), Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($78,750), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($76,964).

Employment

Occupations

33.8k

2024 Value

± 1,248

0.485%

1 Year growth

± 5.19%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Rice County, MN grew at a rate of 0.485%, from 33.6k employees to 33.8k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Rice County, MN, are Management Occupations (3,457 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (3,354 people), and Production Occupations (3,249 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Rice County, MN.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Minnesota.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Minnesota (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

33.8k

2024 Value

± 1,248

0.485%

1 Year growth

± 5.19%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Rice County, MN grew at a rate of 0.485%, from 33.6k employees to 33.8k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Rice County, MN, are Manufacturing (5,305 people), Educational Services (5,257 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (4,474 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Rice County, MN, though some of these residents may live in Rice County, MN and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$52,514

Median earning men ± $3,242

$38,701

Median earning women ± $2,162

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($96,375), Public Administration ($91,875), and Information ($91,364).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Public Administration ($70,586), Information ($60,125), and Transportation & Warehousing, & Utilities ($58,750).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Minnesota.

Y-Axis

2.26%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 2.93M people employed in Minnesota. This represents a 2.26% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 13.4%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Minnesota.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

187
Construction
121
Other Services (except Public Administration)
95
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$304k
Manufacturing
$145k
Educational Services
$143k
Health Care and Social Assistance

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Minnesota went to Kamala Harris with 50.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.7%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.738%).

Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are the senators currently representing the state of Minnesota. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Minnesota is currently represented by 8 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Rice County, MN. Showing the available data for Minnesota.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (50.9%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (46.7%)
Republican Party
Robert Kennedy (0.738%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Minnesota went to Kamala Harris with 50.9% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (46.7%), followed by Robert Kennedy (0.738%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Minnesota for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Minnesota

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Minnesota.

Amy Klobuchar

Senator from Minnesota

Assumed office on January 3, 2007
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) is the Minnesota affiliate of the U.S. Democratic Party and its members are counted as Democrats.

Tina Smith

Senator from Minnesota

Assumed office on January 3, 2018
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Al Franken.

Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith are the senators currently representing Minnesota.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Minnesota over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Rice County, MN awarded 1,483 degrees. The student population of Rice County, MN in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 2,315 male students and 2,828 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Rice County, MN are White (950 and 73%), Asian (105 and 8.06%), Hispanic or Latino (101 and 7.76%), and Two or More Races (80 and 6.14%).

The largest universities in Rice County, MN by number of degrees awarded are St Olaf College (926 and 62.4%) and Carleton College (557 and 37.6%).

The most popular majors in Rice County, MN are General Biological Sciences (156 and 10.5%), General Mathematics (114 and 7.69%), and Computer Science (113 and 7.62%).

The median tuition cost for private four year colleges is $61,007.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Rice County, MN, the percentage of applicants admitted was 36.6%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 30%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 5,143 (45% men and 55% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 5,143 students enrolled in Rice County, MN, 45% men and 55% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 3,120 records, of which 55.5% were women and 44.5% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Biological Sciences
156 degrees awarded
General Mathematics
114 degrees awarded
Computer Science
113 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Rice County, MN was General Biological Sciences with 156 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Rice County, MN according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

St Olaf College
926 degrees awarded
Carleton College
557 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was St Olaf College with 926 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 630 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Rice County, MN, which is 0.739 times less than the 853 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 950 degrees mean that there were 9.05 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Asian, with 105 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($61,007) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($414) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($969) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Rice County, MN was $320,200 in 2024, which is 0.962 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $298,500 to $320,200, a 7.27% increase. The homeownership rate in Rice County, MN is 76.3%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Rice County, MN have an average commute time of 21.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Rice County, MN is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 12.5% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Rice County, MN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.457%.

Housing

Property

$320,200

Median Property Value 2024

±$9,461

$17,918

Median Property Taxes

±$779

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Rice County, MN the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Rice County, MN compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

76.3%

Homeownership

2024

65.7%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 76.3% of the housing units in Rice County, MN were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 75.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Rice County, MN compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$83,181

Median Household Income

± $2,894

23.5k

Number of Households

± 989

In 2024, the median household income of the 23.5k households in Rice County, MN grew to $83,181 from the previous year's value of $82,792.

The following chart displays the households in Rice County, MN distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Rice County, MN is from Minnesota.

0.454

2023 Wage GINI in Minnesota

0.458

2022 Wage GINI in Minnesota

In 2023, the income inequality in Minnesota was 0.454 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.78% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Minnesota was lower than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Minnesota in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Minnesota across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (68%)
Worked At Home (12%)
Carpooled (9.17%)

In 2024, 68% of workers in Rice County, MN drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (12%) and those who carpooled to work (9.17%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

21.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Rice County, MN have a shorter commute time (21.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.38% of the workforce in Rice County, MN have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Rice County, MN compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Rice County, MN distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Rice County, MN have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 12.5% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Rice County, MN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.457%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

10.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Rice County, MN (6.16k out of 60.3k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 6 - 11 and then Males 18 - 24.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Rice County, MN is White, followed by Hispanic and Black.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 11.1% of the children was living in poverty in Rice County, MN. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 2.5%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 154 in Rice County, MN. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator grew 1.42 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

94.5% of the population of Rice County, MN has health coverage, with 52.4% on employee plans, 15.1% on Medicaid, 12.9% on Medicare, 12.8% on non-group plans, and 1.25% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Rice County, MN see 1,160 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,160 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1736 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 472 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.2% were men and 49.8% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,160 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Rice County, MN

Primary care physicians in Rice County, MN see an average of 1,160 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,160 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Rice County, MN in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.1% under 18 years, 23% between 18 and 34 years, 35.4% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.5% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 50.2% were men and 49.8% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

5.53%

Uninsured

52.4%

Employer Coverage

15.1%

Medicaid

12.9%

Medicare

12.8%

Non-Group

1.25%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Rice County, MN declined by 14.1% from 6.44% to 5.53%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Rice County, MN changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 28.5 in Rice County, MN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Rice County, MN.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 35% in Rice County, MN.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Rice County, MN.