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Rice County, MN
7 cities and towns and 8 ZIP codes in Rice County, Minnesota.
Population
67,917
Land area
496sq mi
People per sq mi
137
ZIP codes
8
Cities and towns in Rice County
Rice County at a glance
- Rice County is 90% denser than Minnesota as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 14th among 87 counties in Minnesota.
- The median household income is $83,181, 7% below the Minnesota median of $89,062.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $320,200 and median rent is $1,083 a month.
- Its largest cities are Faribault (24,631), Northfield (20,742) and Lonsdale (4,896).
Local data for Rice County, MN
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes2
- Schools45
- Colleges3
- Libraries4
- Banks17
- Post Offices6
- Parks65
- Grocery Stores21
- Restaurants130
- Affordable Housing11
- Home Health Agencies1
- Dialysis Centers3
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment4
- Private Schools5
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Superfund Sites1
- Toxic Release Facilities10
- Historic Places70
Housing and community stats
Rice County, MN, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$83,181
Poverty rate
10.2%
Median home value
$320,200
Prices +4.3% in a year
Median rent
$1,083/mo
Homeownership
76.3%
Bachelor's or higher
30.2%
Median age
37.1
Average commute
21.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (20,044), Norwegian Americans (8,187), Irish Americans (6,460).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
4.3%
Sep 2026, +1.1 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$61,410
26,450 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$57,160
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$396M
FY 2026, $5,902 per person
PPP loans
$160M
2,417 loans, 18,862 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$454K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Rice County, MN, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone68.0%
- Carpooled9.2%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked7.9%
- Bicycle1.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.6%
- Worked from home12.0%
Average one-way commute: 21.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Rice County, MN, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
501
Most often hail
Flood insurance policies
69
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 5°F
35.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone70 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Rice County, MN, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
37.5%
U.S. 33.3% +4.2 pts
Diabetes
10.1%
U.S. 12.1% -2.0 pts
Smoking
13.9%
U.S. 12.8% +1.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
8.7%
U.S. 11.1% -2.4 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Rice County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Rice County, MN?
- Faribault is the largest city or town in Rice County, with about 24,631 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Rice County?
- Rice County includes 8 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 55019, 55021, 55046, 55052, 55053.
- What is the population of Rice County, MN?
- About 67,917 people live in Rice County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Rice County?
- Rice County borders Dakota County, Scott County, Goodhue County, Steele County, Le Sueur County, Dodge County, Waseca County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023