The Town FilesColumbus, Wisconsin
Town in Columbia County · population 626 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $355,300
- Household income
- $100,982
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 49.6
Columbus is a town of 626 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $355,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks more walkable than 82% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 82% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 81% 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 $355,300, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $100,982, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,010 a month. 83.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $355,300 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,010 | $951 |
| Median household income | $100,982 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 83.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.6 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 12.6% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 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 44.4 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
13 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 F3, struck on June 4, 1975 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 3, 1977.
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 0.3%.
Towns near Columbus
- Columbus, WI2.5 mi · 5,540 people · home $230,600
- Fall River, WI4.4 mi · 1,801 people · home $243,700
- Hampden, WI5.0 mi · 581 people · home $367,900
- York, WI5.6 mi · 697 people · home $405,000
- Fountain Prairie, WI6.4 mi · 938 people · home $406,900
- Elba, WI6.4 mi · 1,041 people · home $352,500
- Otsego, WI8.0 mi · 670 people · home $371,900
- Portland, WI8.9 mi · 1,091 people · home $281,300
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 60% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 17%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.6).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $355,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,982, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,010 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 44.4 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 4, 1975. 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)