Checked
Rice County, KS
9 cities and towns and 7 ZIP codes in Rice County, Kansas.
Population
9,350
Land area
726sq mi
People per sq mi
13
ZIP codes
7
Cities and towns in Rice County
Rice County at a glance
- Rice County is 64% less dense than Kansas as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $63,925 a year, 14% less than the Kansas figure of $74,275.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $104,600 (52% below Kansas) and median rent is $753 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Lyons (3,553), Sterling (2,411) and Chase (490).
Local data for Rice County, KS
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Rice County, KS, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$63,925
Poverty rate
7.7%
Median home value
$104,600
Prices +19.9% in a year
Median rent
$753/mo
Homeownership
77.4%
Bachelor's or higher
25.9%
Median age
38.6
Average commute
20.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,827), Mexican Americans (1,119), Irish Americans (1,062).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.5%
Sep 2026, +0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$51,330
3,829 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$59,723
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$76.2M
FY 2026, $8,080 per person
PPP loans
$25.3M
565 loans, 3,057 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$12.8K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Rice County, KS, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.2%
- Carpooled10.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked6.3%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.6%
- Worked from home6.0%
Average one-way commute: 20.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Rice County, KS, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
714
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
31
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
93° / 20°F
29.0 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone5 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Rice County, KS, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.5%
U.S. 33.3% +6.2 pts
Diabetes
11.9%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
14.5%
U.S. 12.8% +1.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
10.0%
U.S. 11.1% -1.1 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Rice County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Rice County, KS?
- Lyons is the largest city or town in Rice County, with about 3,553 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Rice County?
- Rice County includes 7 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 67427, 67457, 67512, 67524, 67554.
- What is the population of Rice County, KS?
- About 9,350 people live in Rice County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Rice County?
- Rice County borders Reno County, McPherson County, Barton County, Ellsworth County, Stafford County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023