The Town FilesColumbus, Wisconsin
City in Columbia County · population 5,540 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $230,600
- Household income
- $75,427
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 40.3
Columbus is a city of 5,540 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $230,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks hipper than 97% of Wisconsin towns, more walkable than 93% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 93% of Wisconsin towns.
How Columbus ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Columbus is worth $230,600, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $75,427, which is more affordable than 55% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $874 a month. 63.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,600 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $874 | $951 |
| Median household income | $75,427 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 63.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.6% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.9% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 18.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Columbus
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.9 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 8, 1984 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 15, 1956.
Severe weather in Columbia County since 1996
Columbia County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| June 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1768: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 26, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1719: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Columbia County
Columbia County had 21,963 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,667 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Columbus itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Columbus
4 public schools with 1,127 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Elementary | PK-5 | 438 | 13.3 |
| Columbus High | 9-12 | 370 | 12.8 |
| Columbus Middle | 6-8 | 243 | 11.6 |
| Discovery Charter School (charter) | K-3 | 76 | 15.2 |
Towns near Columbus
- Waterloo, WI10.8 mi · 3,492 people · home $230,600
- Marshall, WI11.6 mi · 3,787 people · home $238,900
- Beaver Dam, WI13.2 mi · 4,062 people · home $261,400
- Beaver Dam, WI13.9 mi · 16,708 people · home $201,900
- Windsor, WI14.1 mi · 8,754 people · home $425,600
- Sun Prairie, WI14.9 mi · 35,967 people · home $365,700
- Juneau, WI17.0 mi · 2,658 people · home $186,700
- DeForest, WI17.5 mi · 10,811 people · home $359,600
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 84% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 15%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $230,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,427, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $874 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 41.9 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 8, 1984. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)