What are the schools like in Colby, WI?

Colby is served primarily by Colby School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.3:1.

What is the median household income in Colby?

The median household income in Colby, WI is $51,176 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.9%.

What is the weather like in Colby, WI?

Colby has an average high temperature of 21.1°F in January and 78.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 51.0 inches.

Colby, WI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Colby, WI affordable or expensive?

Colby's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Colby is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $143,900 and the median rent is $784 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Colby, WI?

Colby has a violent crime rate of 134.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 556.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Colby, WI a Good Place to Live?

Colby is a small town of 2,132 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $51,176 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Colby stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Colby is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Colby 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: 90.1

Colby's overall cost of living index is 90.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Colby costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Colby, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$143,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$784	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	61.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$51,176	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Colby's violent crime rate is 134.9 per 100,000 residents — 64% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

134.9 /100k

Property Crime

556.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Colby is served primarily by Colby School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Colby, WI	National Avg
School District	Colby School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	83.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Colby sees average highs of 21.1°F in January and 78.9°F in July, with 34.2 inches of annual precipitation and 51.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Colby, WI
Average High — January	21.1°F
Average High — July	78.9°F
Annual Precipitation	34.2"
Annual Snowfall	51.0"

Demographics

Metric	Colby, WI	National Avg
Population	2,132	—
Median Age	38.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.2 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	14.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	27.3%	22.2%
65 and over	21.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Abbotsford, WI 2 mi Unity, WI 4 mi Dorchester, WI 6 mi Curtiss, WI 7 mi Spencer, WI 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Colby

Colby, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

54421

Colby vs Other Cities

Colby, WI vs Abbotsford, WI Colby, WI vs Unity, WI Colby, WI vs Dorchester, WI Colby, WI vs Curtiss, WI Colby, WI vs Spencer, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colby, WI affordable or expensive?

Colby's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Colby roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $143,900 and median rent is $784/month.

What is the crime rate in Colby, WI?

Colby's violent crime rate is 134.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 556.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Colby?

Public schools in Colby are operated by Colby School District. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 14.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Colby, WI a good place to live?

Colby, WI has a population of 2,132, a median household income of $51,176, and an unemployment rate of 3.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Colby?

Colby averages 21.1°F in January and 78.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.2 inches with about 51.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Colby?

Colby, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 54421.

What is the population of Colby?

The population of Colby, Wisconsin is 2,132 with a median age of 38.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Colby?

Key numbers for living in Colby: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $143,900, median household income $51,176, crime index 32 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Colby side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.