City · Minnesota

Rice, Minnesota

Rice, city, in Benton County, Minnesota. Rice had 2,212 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 11.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,975 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 2,085 (±219). GEOID 2753998.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

2,212

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,975 · ACS 2020-2024: 2,085 ±219

Median household income

$107,692

±$11,867 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $89,062

Median home value

$266,600

±$6,068 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $329,300

Median gross rent

$1,144

±$408 (90% margin)
Minnesota: $1,280

Where is Rice and what county is it in?

Rice is a city in Benton County, Minnesota. It covers 5.7 square miles of land, 346 residents per square mile in 2020.

Rice is in the St. Cloud, MN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).

Rice (marked with a dot) in Benton County, Minnesota. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Rice, and is it growing?

The Census Bureau estimates that 2,212 people lived in Rice on July 1, 2025, up 11.5% since 2020, faster than Minnesota (+2.2%). The 2020 Census counted 1,975 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 2,085 (±219).

  • July 2020→2021 +96 (2,077)
  • 2021→2022 +57 (2,134)
  • 2022→2023 +49 (2,183)
  • 2023→2024 +19 (2,202)
  • 2024→2025 +10 (2,212)
ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (counts) with the change from 2015-2019
Measure RiceBenton CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Total population 2,085 ±219 41,593 5,739,445 +452
Households 746 ±72 16,719 2,307,955 +177
Average household size 2.79 ±0.21 2.43 2.43 no clear change
Housing units 746 ±72 17,608 2,545,030 +168

Rice's population since 2000

From 711 in 2000 to 2,212 in 2025: up 211.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Rice as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

  • 2000 Census 711
  • 2005 (estimate) 1,034
  • 2010 Census 1,275
  • 2015 (estimate) 1,356
  • 2020 Census 1,975
  • 2025 (estimate) 2,212

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Rice?

The median resident of Rice is 33.2 years old; 30.9% are under 18 and 8.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.8%.

Age, origin, education and moves, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure RiceBenton CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median age 33.2 ±2.0 36.2 38.8 +2.9
Under 18 years 30.9% ±3.4 pts 25.3% 22.9% –
65 years and over 8.6% ±2.8 pts 14.0% 17.3% –
Male 53.9% ±2.8 pts 50.5% 50.1% –
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.8% ±2.9 pts 3.5% 6.4% –
White alone, not Hispanic 92.6% ±3.8 pts 86.0% 75.9% no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic 0.7% ±1.1 pts 5.5% 6.9% –
Asian alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.1 pts 1.0% 5.1% –
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.1 pts 0.1% 0.7% –
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.1 pts 0.0% 0.0% –
Two or more races, not Hispanic 1.9% ±1.3 pts 3.5% 4.5% –
Some other race alone, not Hispanic 0.0% ±1.1 pts 0.4% 0.5% –
Born outside the United States 0.9% ±0.8 pts 3.5% 8.7% –
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) 1.9% ±1.5 pts 5.5% 12.4% –
Civilian veterans (age 18+) 4.3% ±1.6 pts 6.0% 5.9% –
With a disability 6.5% ±2.1 pts 12.9% 11.6% –
No health insurance coverage 2.8% ±1.8 pts 3.4% 4.7% –
High school graduate or higher (age 25+) 96.7% ±1.6 pts 92.6% 93.9% –
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 28.8% ±7.0 pts 26.2% 39.4% no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) 10.0% ±4.4 pts 7.5% 13.8% –
Lived in the same house a year earlier 92.5% ±2.4 pts 85.2% 87.8% –
Moved from another state in the past year 1.1% ±1.0 pts 2.0% 1.8% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Rice earn?

Half of Rice's 746 households earn less than $107,692 a year (±$11,867), against $74,410 in Benton County and $89,062 in Minnesota. In 2015-2019 the median was $93,038 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,654 after inflation. 3.0% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; 2015-2019 dollars adjusted with the R-CPI-U-RS
Measure RiceBenton CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median household income $107,692 ±$11,867 $74,410 $89,062 +$14,654
Mean household income $108,313 ±$7,773 $92,507 $118,304 –
Per capita income $39,533 ±$2,186 $38,579 $48,237 +$5,924
People below the poverty line 3.0% ±1.3 pts 9.9% 9.3% –
Children under 18 below the poverty line 1.7% ±2.0 pts 10.5% 10.3% –
Households receiving SNAP 2.8% ±1.8 pts 8.6% 7.9% –
Households with a computer 96.8% ±2.5 pts 95.3% 95.8% –
Households with a broadband subscription 90.1% ±4.1 pts 91.1% 91.6% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Rice?

Owners occupy 88.6% of Rice's occupied homes and renters 11.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $266,600 by its owner (±$6,068). The median renter pays $1,144 a month including utilities, and 28.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Home values are owners' own estimates.
Measure RiceBenton CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied) $266,600 ±$6,068 $271,000 $329,300 +$60,090
Median gross rent $1,144 ±$408 $982 $1,280 no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent 28.6% ±18.6 pts 34.2% 38.4% –
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage $1,503 ±$71 $1,770 $1,947 –
Owner-occupied homes 88.6% ±4.4 pts 66.7% 72.2% no clear change
Renter-occupied homes 11.4% ±4.4 pts 33.3% 27.8% –
Housing units 746 ±72 17,608 2,545,030 +168
Homeowner vacancy rate 0.0% ±3.3 pts 0.6% 0.6% –
Rental vacancy rate 0.0% ±23.0 pts 1.2% 5.3% –
Single-family detached homes 89.0% ±3.3 pts 66.2% 66.0% –
Mobile homes 0.5% ±0.7 pts 5.5% 2.9% –
Built 2020 or later 2.7% ±1.8 pts 1.9% 1.9% –
Built 2010 to 2019 12.9% ±3.4 pts 7.9% 8.5% –
Built 1939 or earlier 5.9% ±3.3 pts 11.4% 15.6% –
Households with no vehicle 0.5% ±0.6 pts 6.1% 6.7% –

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Rice building?

Builders took permits for 11 new housing units in Rice in 2025 (11 in single-family houses), 5.0 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Minnesota.

  • 2019 9 units
  • 2020 38 units
  • 2021 27 units
  • 2022 23 units
  • 2023 8 units
  • 2024 (11 months) 9 units
  • 2025 11 units

Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Rice work and get to work?

79.7% of Rice's workers drive alone and 12.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.2 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (workers 16 and over)
Measure RiceBenton CountyMinnesota Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+) 83.9% ±3.9 pts 72.4% 68.1% –
Unemployment rate 2.3% ±1.8 pts 3.9% 4.1% –
Drove alone to work 79.7% ±4.6 pts 79.0% 68.9% –
Carpooled 5.2% ±2.2 pts 6.7% 7.5% –
Public transportation 0.0% ±1.8 pts 0.4% 1.8% –
Walked 2.1% ±1.9 pts 3.2% 2.5% –
Worked from home 12.0% ±3.6 pts 9.5% 17.6% –
Mean travel time to work 24.2 min ±1.6 23.2 min 22.7 min no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What census tracts are in Rice?

No census tract lies mostly in Rice; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).

Census tracts in Rice, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractResidents, 2020-2024Median household incomeMedian home valueShare of tract in Rice
Tract 202.03Benton County3,065 $110,909 $278,60038%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Rice) · Census block assignment files

How does Rice compare with other places in Minnesota?

By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Rice is the 7,339th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 257th-most populous of 855 in Minnesota.

Rice ranks 157th of 558 places in Minnesota with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.

Rice's rank in Minnesota (1 = highest): by population among the state's incorporated places with a 2025 estimate; by the other measures among places of 1,000+ residents with a reliable estimate
MeasureRankOf
Population, July 2025 estimate257th855
Growth 2020-2025 (PEP)28th556
Residents per square mile320th562
Median household income157th558
Per capita income346th562
Median home value353rd559
Median gross rent205th465
Poverty rate427th461
Bachelor's degree or higher287th559
Median age522nd561
Owner-occupied share225th561
Work from home280th525
Travel time to work265th562

Rice's figures with every place in Minnesota (CSV)

Every place in Minnesota, sortable · Compare Rice with other places

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Rice?

18 of the 57 figures for Rice on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.

The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Rice are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Rice.