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Columbia County, WI
15 cities and towns and 12 ZIP codes in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Population
58,272
Land area
766sq mi
People per sq mi
76
ZIP codes
12
Cities and towns in Columbia County
Columbia County at a glance
- Columbia County is 30% less dense than Wisconsin as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $85,351 a year, 10% more than the Wisconsin figure of $77,485.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $283,200 (6% above Wisconsin) and median rent is $978 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Portage (10,236), Columbus (5,488) and Lake Wisconsin (5,384).
Local data for Columbia County, WI
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Columbia County, WI, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$85,351
Poverty rate
7.8%
Median home value
$283,200
Prices +5.7% in a year
Median rent
$978/mo
Homeownership
76.7%
Bachelor's or higher
26.0%
Median age
43.7
Average commute
26.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (23,293), Irish Americans (7,251), Norwegian Americans (5,964).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.1%
Aug 2026, +0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$55,108
21,764 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$75,993
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$479M
FY 2026, $8,195 per person
PPP loans
$123M
1,859 loans, 14,763 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$244K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Columbia County, WI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone76.9%
- Carpooled7.0%
- Public transit0.3%
- Walked2.2%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.9%
- Worked from home12.5%
Average one-way commute: 26.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Columbia County, WI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
846
Most often thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
138
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 10°F
38.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone44 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Columbia County, WI, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
33.6%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
11.3%
U.S. 12.1% -0.8 pts
Smoking
14.4%
U.S. 12.8% +1.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.4%
U.S. 11.1% -3.7 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Columbia County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Columbia County, WI?
- Portage is the largest city or town in Columbia County, with about 10,236 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Columbia County?
- Columbia County includes 12 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 53555, 53901, 53911, 53923, 53925.
- What is the population of Columbia County, WI?
- About 58,272 people live in Columbia County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Columbia County?
- Columbia County borders Dane County, Dodge County, Sauk County, Juneau County, Adams County, Green Lake County, Marquette County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023