Population
69,939
2025
+4.2% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Rice County, MN: population growth, jobs and income
Rice County gained 394 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.6%).
Rice County had an estimated 69,939 residents in 2025, up 4.2% (2,834 more people) since 2020. That is faster than Minnesota as a whole (+2.1%), and the 14th fastest growth of 87 counties in Minnesota.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Rice County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Rice County, ranked against Minnesota and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,083/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes7.1%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months882025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+13
2025
0.2 per 1,000 residents
+531 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
3.9%
2025
+0.5 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
100
2025
−54.1% since 2021
1.4 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$83,181
2020–24
+17.8% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
25,126
2023
+2.0% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 13 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 25,126 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.9% in 2025, 0.5 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 100 new homes in 2025, or 1.4 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $83,181 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +17.8% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 732nd.
Part of the Faribault-Northfield, MN micro area.
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Email me when Rice County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Rice County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 69,939 | +394 |
| 2024 | 69,545 | +960 |
| 2023 | 68,585 | +594 |
| 2022 | 67,991 | +632 |
| 2021 | 67,359 | +254 |
| 2020 | 67,105 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Rice County
Rice County grew by 2,834 people since 2020; the largest part came from international migration (+1,894).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +106 | +374 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +270 | +1,894 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +13 | +531 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +5 | +35 | |
| Total change | +394 | +2,834 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Minnesota | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 14th of 87 | 732nd of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 45th of 87 | 1,889th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 28th of 87 | 1,592nd of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 16th of 87 | 477th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 33rd of 87 | 1,437th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 62nd of 87 | 1,842nd of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Rice County, MN as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Dakota County and Scott County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Rice County's population change (+4.2%) was ahead of 6 of its 7 neighbouring counties and behind 1 (Scott County).
6 of its 7 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Rice County's $83,181 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice County, MN This county | 69,939 | +4.2% | 0.2 | 1.4 | $83,181 |
| Steele County, MN | 37,464 | +0.2% | −0.7 | 1.4 | $84,196 |
| Scott County, MN | 159,017 | +5.1% | 3.6 | 5.6 | $119,314 |
| Dakota County, MN | 457,710 | +3.9% | 3.2 | 5.1 | $106,318 |
| Waseca County, MN | 18,688 | −1.5% | 2.0 | 3.3 | $76,261 |
| Le Sueur County, MN | 29,453 | +2.9% | −1.9 | 2.3 | $94,968 |
| Dodge County, MN | 21,376 | +2.3% | −2.2 | 3.9 | $95,739 |
| Goodhue County, MN | 48,195 | +1.3% | 0.7 | 1.7 | $84,171 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Rice County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 4.2% between 2020 and 2025, about 2,834 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Minnesota as a whole changed +2.1% over the same years. That ranks 14th of 87 counties in Minnesota for population growth.
How many people moved to Rice County?
On net, about 13 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Rice County?
It averaged 3.9% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Rice County?
About 69,939 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Rice County?
Private employers there had 25,126 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +2.0% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Minnesota
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Minnesota county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Rice County data alerts
Email me when Rice County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.