What are the schools like in Columbus, WI?

Columbus is served primarily by Columbus School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1.

What is the median household income in Columbus?

The median household income in Columbus, WI is $65,727 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.1%.

What is the weather like in Columbus, WI?

Columbus has an average high temperature of 27.4°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 43.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Columbus, WI affordable or expensive?

Columbus's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Columbus is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $209,500 and the median rent is $819 per month.

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

Columbus has a violent crime rate of 73.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 461.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Columbus, WI a Good Place to Live?

Columbus is a small town of 5,481 in Wisconsin, with a median household income of $65,727 and a 2.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

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

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

All Columbus 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: 95.8

Columbus's overall cost of living index is 95.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Columbus costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Columbus, WI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$209,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$819	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$65,727	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Columbus's violent crime rate is 73.8 per 100,000 residents — 81% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

73.8 /100k

Property Crime

461.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Columbus is served primarily by Columbus School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Columbus, WI	National Avg
School District	Columbus School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	29.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Columbus sees average highs of 27.4°F in January and 82.3°F in July, with 37.1 inches of annual precipitation and 43.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Columbus, WI
Average High — January	27.4°F
Average High — July	82.3°F
Annual Precipitation	37.1"
Annual Snowfall	43.3"

Demographics

Metric	Columbus, WI	National Avg
Population	5,481	—
Median Age	38.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	92.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.3%	18.9%
Asian	3.3%	6.3%
Under 18	22.3%	22.2%
65 and over	16.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fall River, WI 3 mi Doylestown, WI 9 mi Reeseville, WI 10 mi Waterloo, WI 11 mi Lowell, WI 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Columbus

Columbus, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

53925

Columbus vs Other Cities

Columbus, WI vs Fall River, WI Columbus, WI vs Doylestown, WI Columbus, WI vs Reeseville, WI Columbus, WI vs Waterloo, WI Columbus, WI vs Lowell, WI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbus, WI affordable or expensive?

Columbus's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Columbus roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $209,500 and median rent is $819/month.

What is the crime rate in Columbus, WI?

Columbus's violent crime rate is 73.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 461.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Columbus?

Public schools in Columbus are operated by Columbus School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 29.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Columbus, WI a good place to live?

Columbus, WI has a population of 5,481, a median household income of $65,727, and an unemployment rate of 2.1%. 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 Columbus?

Columbus averages 27.4°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.1 inches with about 43.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Columbus?

Columbus, WI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 53925.

What is the population of Columbus?

The population of Columbus, Wisconsin is 5,481 with a median age of 38.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Columbus?

Key numbers for living in Columbus: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $209,500, median household income $65,727, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Columbus side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.