The Town FilesColby, Wisconsin
City in Clark County · population 1,952 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $184,700
- Household income
- $50,114
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 38.3
Colby is a city of 1,952 people in Clark County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $184,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Wisconsin towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Wisconsin towns, more vibrant than 74% of Wisconsin towns.
How Colby 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 Colby is worth $184,700, below the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $50,114, which is more affordable than 23% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $854 a month. 53.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colby | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $854 | $951 |
| Median household income | $50,114 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 53.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Colby
| People | Colby | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 89.1% |
Weather in Colby
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 1.8°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.4 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colby since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 4, 1958 about 2.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 20, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 22 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Clark County since 1996
Clark County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| August 10, 2018 | Flood | DR-4383: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 20, 2016 | Flood | DR-4288: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Clark County
Clark County had 11,379 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,135 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Colby itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Colby
4 public schools with 910 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colby Elementary | K-5 | 343 | 11.8 |
| Colby High | 9-12 | 299 | 16.6 |
| Colby Middle | 6-8 | 223 | 14.9 |
| Little Stars Pre-School | PK-PK | 45 | 45.0 |
Towns near Colby
- Abbotsford, WI2.2 mi · 2,275 people · home $151,500
- Colby, WI3.3 mi · 922 people · home $193,300
- Hull, WI3.5 mi · 756 people · home $214,300
- Dorchester, WI6.3 mi · 849 people · home $156,000
- Mayville, WI6.6 mi · 963 people · home $222,600
- Unity, WI6.7 mi · 751 people · home $184,200
- Holton, WI6.7 mi · 859 people · home $217,600
- Brighton, WI7.9 mi · 620 people · home $218,300
Colby questions
Is Colby, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colby scores better for retirees than 2% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 13%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Colby?
The median owner-occupied home in Colby is valued at $184,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,114, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $854 a month.
What is the weather like in Colby?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 1.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 50.4 inches of snow.
Does Colby get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colby since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 4, 1958. 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)