City profile · Wisconsin · Census ACS 2023

Rice Lake, WI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Rice Lake - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

9,030
Residents
$55,040
Median income
$178,100
Median home
$984
Median rent (state)

Rice Lake - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Rice Lake places in the 27th percentile for household income and the 43rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

27th
percentile, household income
36th
percentile, home value
18th
percentile, median rent
43rd
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Rice Lake, WI

Rice Lake is a small town in Wisconsin, home to 9,030 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $55,040 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.1%. Home values in Rice Lake run a median of $178,100, and the median resident age is 36.3 years. About 25.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 61.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 12 residential building permits were authorized in Rice Lake (Construction Slowdown), down 69% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Rice Lake reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1589.4 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 43.0°F with 31.4 inches of precipitation per year and 52.5 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Wisconsin run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Wisconsin scores 94.1 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $984 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Wisconsin run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 12.6 minutes, with 84.6% driving alone and 5.6% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 68.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

9,030 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Wisconsin

Median Household Income

$55,040 /yr

Poverty 4.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.1 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Wisconsin average

How does Rice Lake compare to other US cities?

Here's how Rice Lake stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 36% pricier than other cities
Median rent 18% pricier than other cities
Safety 43% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Wisconsin and the picture shifts: Rice Lake ranks #151 of 202 Wisconsin cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Rice Lake's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Wisconsin, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

27thIncome percentile
43rdSafety percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income · 43rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Rice Lake's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Rice Lake's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 48 Avg. percentile National median
Rice Lake's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Rice Lake's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$178,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 64% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Rice Lake $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Rice Lake, WI Rice Lake, WI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Rice Lake, WI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Rice Lake, WI median $55,040/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Rice Lake, WI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Rice Lake, WI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
9,030
Median Income
$55,040
Median Home Value
$178,100
Median Age
36.3
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Labor force participation
61.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1589.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
244.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1344.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
43.0°F
Annual Precipitation
31.4"
Annual Snowfall
52.5"

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,800 residents8,900 residents9,000 residents9,100 residents 202020212022202320242025 9,064 residents 8,882 residents ▼ -2.0%
Rice Lake's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
12
housing units authorized
Single-Family
8
detached homes
Multifamily
4
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 39
2020 20
2021 17
2022 18
2023 12
2024 12

Permit volume decreased 69% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
12.6 minutes
Drive Alone
84.6%
Carpool
8.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
5.6%

Based on 4,273 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Wisconsin - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Wisconsin state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Wisconsin state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Rice Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.1
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$984/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
68.6 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Wisconsin

Windsor
8,992 people
Plymouth
8,913 people
Merrill
9,224 people
McFarland
9,230 people
Shawano
9,236 people
Altoona
8,750 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Rice Lake's 9,030 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Oak Grove, MN
9,031 people
Harleysville, PA
9,034 people
Tiburon, CA
9,035 people
Benton Harbor, MI
9,023 people
Craig, CO
9,022 people
Corona de Tucson, AZ
9,039 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Rice Lake's $55,040 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Chickasha, OK
$55,039 median income
L'Anse, MI
$55,042 median income
Sunrise Manor, NV
$55,034 median income
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
$55,031 median income
Dothan, AL
$55,052 median income
Coral, PA
$55,025 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Rice Lake, WI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Rice Lake, WI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.0% White 93.2% Black or African American 1.4% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.2% Two or more races 2.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Rice Lake compares to nearby Wisconsin cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Rice Lake (this city) 9,030 $55,040
Windsor 8,992 $115,111
Plymouth 8,913 $67,784
Merrill 9,224 $49,947
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WI FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Rice Lake, WI?

What is the population of Rice Lake, WI? +

Rice Lake, WI has a population of 9,030 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Rice Lake, WI? +

Median annual household income in Rice Lake runs $55,040, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Rice Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Rice Lake; the closest available measure is the Wisconsin state average, a cost of living index of 94.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Wisconsin vary by metro area.

Is Rice Lake, WI safe? +

Rice Lake has a total crime rate of 1589.4 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Rice Lake, WI? +

Homes in Rice Lake carry a median value of $178,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Rice Lake? +

The average annual temperature in Rice Lake runs 43.0°F, 31.4 inches of precipitation, and 52.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.