The Town Files

Rice County, Minnesota

67,917 people. The median home is worth $320,200 (typical Minnesota town: $301,800) and the median household earns $83,181.

Towns in Rice County

Towns in Rice County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Faribault24,453$241,500$61,44938.7
Northfield20,790$329,400$84,89528.2
Lonsdale4,686$357,000$95,17630.3

People and housing

Rice CountyTypical Minnesota town
Median home value$320,200$301,800
Median rent$1,083$991
Median household income$83,181$87,375
Median age37.142.7
Bachelor's degree or higher30.2%26.2%
Below the poverty line10.2%6.9%

Jobs and pay

26,196 jobs in 2024, average pay $60,604 a year.

Largest industries in Rice CountyManufacturing5,319 jobs · $90,041Health care & social assistan…3,048 jobs · $49,551Retail2,747 jobs · $33,627Hotels & restaurants2,349 jobs · $21,457Education2,293 jobs · $71,021Construction1,107 jobs · $71,154
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Rice County0%2%4%6%8%10%2000200420082012201620202023 2.6%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 501 storm events in Rice County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Rice County by type since 1996Hail148Tornado33Blizzard15High Wind12Heavy Rain12Heavy Snow19Flash Flood18Winter Storm67Winter Weather13Cold/Wind Chill8
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Rice County has been included in 14 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 28, 2024FloodDR-4797: Severe Storms And Flooding
April 7, 2020BiologicalDR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3453: Covid-19
November 2, 2016FloodDR-4290: Severe Storms And Flooding
July 21, 2014FloodDR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides
July 6, 2012Severe StormDR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).