CountyScore

Columbia County

Wisconsin · WI

#54 in Wisconsin
63.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Columbia County, Wisconsin

Comfortably above national standard

Columbia County's score of 63.5 substantially exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 35% nationally. The county demonstrates broad-based livability strengths.

Slight gap to state average

At 63.5, Columbia falls modestly below Wisconsin's 65.6 average, ranking in the middle-to-upper range statewide. It compares favorably to many rural and semi-rural peers.

Strong health, low risk profile

Columbia excels with a health score of 78.3 and an exceptional risk score of 18.6—the lowest in this group, indicating strong safety and stability. The county also supports solid income levels at $82,792 median household earnings.

Tax burden moderate, not exceptional

At 1.479% effective tax rate and a cost score of 72.3, Columbia is middle-of-the-road on affordability and taxes compared to peers. Housing is less affordable than some rural alternatives at $258,700 median home value.

Ideal for stable, health-conscious families

Columbia suits families seeking strong health care, low-risk communities, and respectable income opportunities with reasonable housing. It appeals to professionals and established families who value stability over ultra-low costs.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax60.7Cost72.3SafetyComing SoonHealth78.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome37.4Risk18.6WaterComing Soon
🏛60.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠72.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼37.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤78.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡18.6
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Columbia County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Pinal County
Arizona
63.5
Median income: $77,588
Rockdale County
Georgia
63.5
Median income: $72,349
Logan County
Illinois
63.5
Median income: $64,188
Perry County
Illinois
63.5
Median income: $59,286
Lyon County
Kansas
63.5
Median income: $59,078

Deep Dives

Columbia County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Columbia County

via TaxByCounty

Columbia residents pay well above national norm

Columbia County's effective tax rate of 1.479% exceeds the national median of 1.436%, while the median tax of $3,826 surpasses the national median of $2,690 by over $1,100. This higher burden reflects Columbia's stronger home values and county service demands.

Columbia's taxes rank above state average

At 1.479%, Columbia's effective rate slightly tops Wisconsin's 1.436% average, and its $3,826 median tax significantly exceeds the state median of $3,081. Columbia residents contribute among Wisconsin's higher property tax bills, reflecting the county's relative prosperity.

Columbia's burden differs from nearby counties

Columbia's $3,826 median tax far outpaces Crawford County's $2,868, despite similar effective rates, reflecting Columbia's substantially higher median home value of $258,700. Compared to Chippewa's $237,700 median home, Columbia homeowners shoulder a notably heavier tax load.

What your annual tax bill looks like

A homeowner with Columbia County's median $258,700 home pays approximately $3,826 per year in property taxes. With a mortgage, the bill rises to $3,891; without one, it drops to $3,673—representing a significant annual expense.

You might be overassessed

Columbia County homeowners carrying elevated property tax bills should verify their assessments against recent comparable sales. Overvalued properties are common, and an appeal could free up thousands of dollars over your ownership tenure.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Columbia County

via CostByCounty

Columbia combines high income and affordability

Columbia County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.4% is the lowest among these eight counties and well below the national pattern, thanks to median household income of $82,792. Though median rent runs $926 monthly—slightly above state average—Columbia's higher earnings cushion this housing cost comfortably.

Wisconsin's most affordable county here

At 13.4%, Columbia's rent-to-income ratio beats Wisconsin's statewide 14.9% average by a meaningful margin. This strong performance reflects both reasonable rents and above-average incomes that insulate households from severe housing-cost burden.

Best affordability ratio in the region

Columbia's 13.4% rent-to-income ratio outperforms all regional neighbors—Dane (18.3%), Door (16.6%), Chippewa (15.6%), and Dodge (15.6%). This advantage stems not from lowest rents, but from Columbia's higher household incomes paired with moderate housing costs.

Housing takes just 26% of household budgets

Combined rent and ownership costs of $926 and $1,275 monthly consume roughly 26% of Columbia's $82,792 median income—the lowest burden ratio in this cohort. This leaves households substantially more discretionary income for savings, education, and quality-of-life investments.

Columbia balances income and housing costs

If you're seeking a county where earnings outpace housing demands, Columbia delivers with the strongest income-to-housing ratio here. Its $258,700 median home value and 13.4% rent-to-income ratio offer genuine affordability within a stable, moderate-income community.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Columbia County

via IncomeByCounty

Columbia Outearns Most American Counties

Columbia County's median household income of $82,792 exceeds the national median of $74,755 by $8,037, placing the county in the top third of earners nationwide. This strong performance reflects Columbia's proximity to Madison's economic engines and educated workforce.

Wisconsin's Upper Income Tier

At $82,792, Columbia County households earn $11,077 more than Wisconsin's state average of $71,715, ranking it among the state's highest-income counties. Only Dane County and a handful of other southern Wisconsin counties exceed Columbia's median.

Columbia Leads Central Wisconsin

Columbia's $82,792 median handily outpaces Dane County's $88,108 neighbor status and significantly exceeds nearby Dodge County ($73,992) and Door County ($71,785). Columbia's position between rural counties and Madison's affluence creates a uniquely prosperous local economy.

Strong Incomes Support Housing

Columbia County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.4% is the lowest among these eight counties, meaning housing costs consume minimal earnings. At $82,792 income supporting a $258,700 median home value, Columbia households enjoy strong purchasing power and affordability.

Columbia's Wealth Acceleration Opportunity

Columbia County households earning $82,792 have exceptional capacity to build wealth through aggressive saving and investing after covering modest housing costs. Maximize retirement contributions, explore investment property opportunities, and consider diversified portfolios to compound this income advantage.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Columbia County

via HealthByCounty

Columbia ranks above the nation

Columbia residents live to 78.5 years—2.1 years longer than the U.S. average of 76.4—and enjoy a 14.4% poor/fair health rate well below the national 18%. The county's low 6.1% uninsured rate puts most residents in position to manage healthcare actively.

Wisconsin's health leaders

Columbia's 78.5-year life expectancy exceeds Wisconsin's 77.8-year average, and its 6.1% uninsured rate beats the state's 7.0%. The county punches above its weight in health outcomes and coverage equity.

Strong health, provider gaps

Columbia's 78.5-year life expectancy places it among the healthiest in its peer group, but at 39 primary care providers per 100K, residents may face wait times compared to Chippewa's 72 or Crawford's 75. Mental health support is robust at 143 per 100K, offsetting primary care constraints.

Coverage strong, access mixed

With 6.1% uninsured, Columbia has excellent coverage—among the best in the state—and residents benefit from strong mental health infrastructure at 143 providers per 100K. However, primary care availability at 39 per 100K means some patients may need to travel or wait for appointments.

Maintain Columbia's momentum

Columbia's strong coverage rates show what's possible; if you're uninsured, joining the 94% with coverage through the marketplace or Medicaid strengthens the county's health foundation. Explore your options at healthcare.gov to sustain this progress.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Columbia County

via RiskByCounty

Columbia faces moderate national risk

Columbia County scores 81.42, earning a Relatively Moderate risk rating that stands well above Wisconsin's average of 59.08. This score reflects elevated exposure to multiple natural hazard types compared to most U.S. counties.

Columbia among Wisconsin's riskiest

Columbia County ranks among the higher-risk counties in Wisconsin for natural disasters, with a composite score of 81.42 that places it in the state's upper tier of vulnerability. Few Wisconsin counties face greater overall disaster exposure than Columbia.

Significantly riskier than surrounding areas

Columbia County (81.42) faces substantially higher risk than neighboring Dodge County (69.91) and Door County (46.88), making it one of the region's most vulnerable spots. This elevated risk spans multiple hazard categories, from tornadoes to wildfires.

Tornadoes, floods, and wildfires converge

Columbia's tornado risk peaks at 75.73, flood risk reaches 75.60, and wildfire risk stands at 42.30—a triple threat that sets this county apart from lower-risk neighbors. Earthquake risk (28.72) and even hurricane exposure (10.60) are elevated for Wisconsin.

Comprehensive coverage is non-negotiable

Columbia residents face exceptional disaster risk and must carry robust homeowners insurance with windstorm, flood, and extended coverage options. Given the county's elevated wildfire and earthquake risks, review your policy for gaps and consider additional riders that match the genuine threats you face.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.