The Town FilesRice, Minnesota
City in Benton County · population 1,975 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $266,600
- Household income
- $107,692
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 33.2
Rice is a city of 1,975 people in Benton County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $266,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks easier by car than 95% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 90% of Minnesota towns, more vibrant than 74% of Minnesota towns.
How Rice ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Rice is worth $266,600, below the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $107,692, which is more affordable than 84% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,144 a month. 88.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rice | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $266,600 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,144 | $991 |
| Median household income | $107,692 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 88.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 2003 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Rice
| People | Rice | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.2 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 8.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.8% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 90.2% |
Weather in Rice
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows -0.2°F. About 30.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.7 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rice since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 18, 1997 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 14, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 63 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 20, 2007.
Severe weather in Benton County since 1996
Benton County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 25, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4131: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
Jobs and pay in Benton County
Benton County had 17,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,955 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Rice itself the ACS puts it at 2.3%.
Public schools in Rice
1 public school with 361 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICE ELEMENTARY | PK-5 | 361 | 12.4 |
Towns near Rice
- Langola, MN2.3 mi · 1,012 people · home $369,600
- Brockway, MN4.2 mi · 2,895 people · home $363,000
- St. Stephen, MN4.3 mi · 797 people · home $262,100
- Royalton, MN5.5 mi · 1,281 people · home $215,300
- Watab, MN5.7 mi · 3,402 people · home $318,200
- Bellevue, MN7.3 mi · 1,149 people · home $356,100
- Two Rivers, MN7.5 mi · 780 people · home $307,500
- Le Sauk, MN7.8 mi · 1,502 people · home $296,300
Rice questions
Is Rice, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rice scores better for retirees than 13% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 37%. 8.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.2).
How much does a house cost in Rice?
The median owner-occupied home in Rice is valued at $266,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $107,692, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,144 a month.
What is the weather like in Rice?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows -0.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.1 inches of precipitation a year and 50.7 inches of snow.
Does Rice get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rice since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 18, 1997. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)