Living in Columbus, Wisconsin
Cost of living, income, home prices, rent and demographics of Columbus · Census data 2020–2024
Columbus has 5,488 residents with a median age of 40.3. The median household income is $75,427 (about the same as the Wisconsin median), the median home value is $230,600, the median rent is $874/month.
Columbus at a glance
- Population
- 5,488
- Median age
- 40.3State: 40.2
- Median household income
- $75,427State: $77,485
- Median home value
- $230,600State: $266,500
- Median rent
- $874/moState: $1,087
- Homeowners
- 63.4%
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 27.6%
- Average commute
- 24 min
Is Columbus a good place to live?
Pros: Home values 13% lower than the state median; a poverty rate of 6.9%.
Cons: Median household income about the same as the Wisconsin median; an average commute of 24 minutes; unemployment of 4.9%.
The weather is best in June to September.
Cost of living in Columbus
Housing is the biggest part of the cost of living. In Columbus the median home value is $230,600, 31% lower than the U.S. median. Renters pay a median of $874 per month, which is 23.3% of household income. Homeowners with a mortgage pay $1,610 a month in housing costs.
Columbus median household income
The median household income in Columbus is $75,427 and the income per person is $42,780. 6.9% of residents live below the poverty line (Wisconsin: 10.6%).
Housing in Columbus: homes for sale and rent
- Housing units
- 2,499
- Owner-occupied
- 63.4%
- Renter-occupied
- 36.6%
- Vacant
- 1.8%Includes seasonal homes
- Median year built
- 1961
- Average household size
- 2.19
Columbus demographics
- Population
- 5,488
- Median age
- 40.3
- Under 18
- 20.2%
- 65 and older
- 15.4%
- Households
- 2,454
- Foreign-born
- 1.7%
- Veterans
- 8.8%Adults 18+
Hispanic or Latino can be of any race. Population history of Columbus ›
Education in Columbus
27.6% of adults 25 and older in Columbus have a bachelor's degree or higher (Wisconsin: 33.4%), and 4.8% have a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs and commute in Columbus
- Unemployment rate
- 4.9%State: 3.2%
- Average commute
- 24 minState: 22 min
- Work from home
- 18.3%
- Drive alone
- 75.7%
- Public transit
- 0%
- Walk to work
- 3.8%
- Homes with broadband
- 90.3%
Columbus vs nearby towns
| Town | Population | Median income | Home value | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 5,488 | $75,427 | $230,600 | $874 |
| Fall River | 1,678 | $72,167 | $243,700 | $1,190 |
| Doylestown | 160 | $75,000 | $206,700 | $1,125 |
| Reeseville | 895 | $71,932 | $167,000 | $956 |
| Waterloo | 3,600 | $87,776 | $230,600 | $1,106 |
| Lowell | 312 | $67,321 | $182,800 | $688 |
| Marshall | 3,778 | $85,942 | $238,900 | $874 |
| Rio | 1,141 | $67,833 | $196,100 | $799 |
| Beaver Dam | 16,565 | $66,673 | $201,900 | $959 |
More for people moving to Columbus
Columbus ZIP code ›Weather and climate ›Living in Columbus: FAQ
What is the median household income in Columbus, WI?
The median household income in Columbus is $75,427, about the same as the Wisconsin median of $77,485 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
What is the average home price in Columbus?
The median home value in Columbus is $230,600, compared with $266,500 in Wisconsin.
How much is rent in Columbus?
The median gross rent in Columbus is $874 per month, about 23.3% of household income.
Is Columbus, WI a good place to live?
Pluses: home values 13% lower than the state median; a poverty rate of 6.9%. Minuses: median household income about the same as the Wisconsin median; an average commute of 24 minutes; unemployment of 4.9%.
What is the median age in Columbus?
The median age in Columbus is 40.3 years (Wisconsin: 40.2).
How long is the commute in Columbus?
The average commute to work in Columbus is 24 minutes; 18.3% of workers work from home.
What is the unemployment rate in Columbus?
The unemployment rate in Columbus is 4.9% (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024).
How educated is Columbus?
27.6% of adults in Columbus have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024 (margins of error apply, especially in small towns). Figures are in 2024 dollars.
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