Cost of Living in Rice County, Kansas
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Rice County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Rice County ranks #810 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 26%)
Sourced county brief
Renter Median Income in Rice County Estimated at $45,083
In Rice County, the median income for renter households was estimated at $45,083. For these households, the official GRAPI—representing the median gross rent as a percentage of household income—is 19.9%. This figure is 4.7 percentage points below the unweighted county mean for Kansas of 24.6%. The median gross rent in Rice County was $753 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $802. Among homeowners, median selected monthly owner costs were $749, while the state unweighted county mean was $861. The median home value in the county was estimated at $104,600, which is $34,225 lower than the state unweighted county mean of $138,825. These metrics are recorded in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates. See ACS table B25119 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Rice County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 19.9% of renter household income in Rice County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $753 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $749. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $30,120 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Kansas unweighted mean of county median rents is $802 per month. Rice County's $753 median is 6.1% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Rice County
Rent Burden
14.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,492
per month
Owner Cost Burden
14.1%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Rice County
Median home value is $104,600. Estimated monthly cost: $835 vs. your max of $1,492.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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