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Columbus, WI
City in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Population
5,488
Land area
4.5sq mi
People per sq mi
1,209
ZIP codes
0
Columbus and its ZIP codes
Columbus at a glance
- Columbus is about 11 times as dense as Wisconsin as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 148th among 808 cities and towns in Wisconsin.
- The median household income is $75,427, close to the Wisconsin median.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $230,600 (13% below Wisconsin) and median rent is $874 a month.
Local data for Columbus, WI
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Columbus, WI, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$75,427
Poverty rate
6.9%
Median home value
$230,600
Median rent
$874/mo
Homeownership
63.4%
Bachelor's or higher
27.6%
Median age
40.3
Average commute
24.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (2,113), Norwegian Americans (421), Irish Americans (377).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Columbia County. PPP loans are for Columbus.
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
How people get to work
Columbus, WI, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone75.7%
- Carpooled2.1%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked3.8%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home18.3%
Average one-way commute: 24.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Columbus, WI, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: hail
Storm events since 1996
846
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
138
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
82° / 11°F
38.5 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone16 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Columbus, WI, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.1%
U.S. 33.3% -1.2 pts
Diabetes
9.9%
U.S. 12.1% -2.2 pts
Smoking
12.5%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
6.8%
U.S. 11.1% -4.3 pts
Cities near Columbus
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Fall RiverVillage | 3.1 mi | 1.9 |
| DoylestownVillage | 8.1 mi | 3.9 |
| ReesevilleVillage | 9.7 mi | 0.6 |
| LowellVillage | 11 mi | 1 |
| WaterlooCity | 11 mi | 3.8 |
| MarshallVillage | 12 mi | 2.1 |
| RioVillage | 13 mi | 1.3 |
| Beaver DamCity | 13 mi | 7.4 |
| RandolphVillage | 14 mi | 1.2 |
| CambriaVillage | 14 mi | 1 |
| WindsorVillage | 15 mi | 27.5 |
| ClymanVillage | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| Sun PrairieCity | 15 mi | 13.1 |
| Fox LakeCity | 16 mi | 1.6 |
| JuneauCity | 17 mi | 1.6 |
| FrieslandVillage | 17 mi | 1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Columbus, WI in?
- Columbus is in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
- What is the population of Columbus, WI?
- About 5,488 people live in Columbus, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Columbus?
- Nearby places include Fall River (3.1 mi), Doylestown (8.1 mi), Reeseville (9.7 mi), Lowell (11 mi), Waterloo (11 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023