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 2025 the population of Rice is 2,163. The population is expected to grow to 2,260 by 2030 - a growth rate of 0.88%.
The median age of Rice residents is 32.
The diversity index of Rice is 18.0, 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 $98,494 and projected to be $102,258 in 2030. Per capita income is $34,789, projected to be $36,288 in 2030. 0.42% of households – 9 – have an income of $200,000 or higher. Average net worth is $443,637 and the average disposable income is $73,938.
There are 776 housing units in Rice; 664 are owner-occupied, 100 are rented, and 12 are vacant. The average home value is $263,272, with 117 homes built in 2010 or later, and 38 built in 1939 or earlier.
There are 81 businesses in Rice, employing 993 workers and pulling from a labor force of 1,172 age 16 and above. 774 workers commute into Rice from outside the county or state. Key industries for the area include:
396 residents both live and work in/around Rice. The average travel time is 23.8 minutes. 6.82% people have a commute of less than 5 minutes while 6.82% commute 90 minutes or more each way. Of commuters, 990 drive alone, 36 carpool, and 0 take public transportation. 36 use other modes of transport such as motorcycle, bicycle, walking, etc. 110 residents work from home.
351 members of the workforce hold a high school diploma or GED. 338 have associates degrees, 276 have bachelor’s degrees, and 124 hold a graduate or professional degree.
