Very AffordableSafer than AverageDULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Median Income
$91,442
household / year
Median Home Value
$273,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,441
gross / month
Cost of Living
87
national avg = 100
Is Rice Lake, MN a Good Place to Live?
Rice Lake is a small town of 4,120 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $91,442
and a 0.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rice Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Rice Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rice Lake city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 87.0
Rice Lake's overall cost of living index is 87.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rice Lake costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rice Lake, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$273,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,441
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
88.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$91,442
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Rice Lake's violent crime rate is 188.9 per 100,000 residents
— 50% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
188.9 /100k
Property Crime
1946.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rice Lake is served primarily by DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Rice Lake, MN
National Avg
School District
DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
10
—
Middle Schools
4
—
High Schools
8
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
29.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rice Lake sees average highs of 19.9°F in January
and 77.7°F in July,
with 31.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 90.2 inches of snow per year.
Rice Lake's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rice Lake roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $273,200 and median rent is $1,441/month.
Rice Lake's violent crime rate is 188.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1946.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rice Lake are operated by DULUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
The district has 10 elementary, 4 middle, and 8 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 29.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rice Lake, MN has a population of 4,120, a median household income of $91,442, and an unemployment rate of 0.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Rice Lake averages 19.9°F in January and 77.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.2 inches
with about 90.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rice Lake, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55803.
The population of Rice Lake, Minnesota is 4,120 with a median age of 44.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rice Lake: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $273,200, median household income $91,442, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rice Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.