The City of Rice, situated in Benton County along Highway 10, is just 20 minutes north of St. Cloud, offering a peaceful and family-friendly lifestyle with convenient access to nearby urban centers. Rice is a growing community that maintains its close-knit charm.
Residents enjoy a lower-than-average cost of living making homeownership more attainable than in surrounding metro areas.
Rice supports a strong local economy with businesses employing people across diverse industries. Many residents work in science and technology, construction, manufacturing, and hospitality, all of which contribute to the city's stability and growth.
Rice is thriving and ready to welcome you. Whether you're starting your career, raising a family, or planning your retirement, Rice offers the perfect blend of affordability, opportunity, and community spirit.
Discover what makes Rice a great place to live, work, and thrive. Learn more about Rice in Benton County below.
As of 2026 the population of Rice is 2,163. The population is expected to grow to 2,247 by 2031 - a growth rate of 0.76%.
The median age of Rice residents is 32.
The diversity index of Rice is 17.6, meaning that there is a 18% chance that any two people selected out of 100 residents will be of different race or ethnicity from one another.
The average household income in Rice is $100,548 and projected to be $106,714 in 2031. Per capita income is $35,701, projected to be $38,088 in 2031. 0.55% of households – 12 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $453,677 and the average disposable income is $74,644.
There are 776 housing units in Rice; 668 are owner-occupied, 100 are rented, and 8 are vacant. The average home value is $266,800, with 116 homes built in 2010 or later, and 44 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 78 businesses in Rice, employing 994 workers and pulling from a labor force of 1,214 age 16 and above. 746 workers commute into Rice from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
468 residents both live and work in/around Rice. The average travel time is 24.2 minutes. 8.97% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 6.84% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 968 drive alone, 63 carpool, and 0 take public transportation. 37 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 146 residents work from home.
316 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 352 have associates degrees, 234 have bachelor’s degrees, and 126 hold a graduate or professional degree.
Source: ESRI, 2026-08-31
