Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Columbus, WI Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

5,488

Median Agei

40.3

Race & Ethnicityi

White

90.3%4,957

Hispanic/Latino

4.1%223

Two or More

3%167

Black

2%108

Asian

0.3%18

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%15

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.3%174

High School Diploma

19.2%777

Some College (<1 yr)

10.4%421

Some College (1+ yr)

22.8%921

Associate's Degree

12.3%499

Bachelor's Degree

22.8%923

Master's Degree

2.8%115

Professional Degree

0.8%31

Doctorate

1.2%48

HS or Higher

96.7%

BA or Higher

27.6%

Graduate+

4.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$230,600

Median Renti

$874

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

63.4%1,556

Renter-Occupied

36.6%898

Total Units

2,499

Homeownership

63.4%

Vacancy Rate

1.8%

Home Values

Under $50K

5.8%90

$50K–$100K

1.8%28

$100K–$150K

5.2%81

$150K–$200K

22.6%351

$200K–$300K

40.7%634

$300K–$500K

21.8%339

$500K–$1M

2.1%33

Rent Distribution

Under $500

$500–$750

202

$750–$1,000

393

$1,000–$1,250

155

$1,250–$1,500

$1,500–$2,000

$2,000+

Year Built

2010–2019

5.4%134

2000–2009

14.6%366

1990–1999

6.3%157

1980–1989

7.2%180

1970–1979

10.3%258

1960–1969

6.9%173

1950–1959

10.4%259

1940–1949

5.2%130

1939 or earlier

33.7%842

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

70.4%1,727

Electricity

24.4%599

No Fuel

4.3%105

Other

0.9%23

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$75,427

Mean Household Incomei

$92,517

Per Capita Incomei

$42,780

Poverty Ratei

6.8%

Unemploymenti

4.9%

Labor Forcei

3,423

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.1%100

$10K–$15K

0.8%20

$20K–$25K

3.1%76

$25K–$30K

3.5%85

$30K–$35K

2.4%60

$35K–$40K

3.4%84

$40K–$45K

10.6%259

$45K–$50K

2.1%51

$50K–$60K

4.6%114

$60K–$75K

15.1%371

$75K–$100K

14%344

$100K–$125K

12.1%297

$125K–$150K

11.9%292

$150K–$200K

7.9%193

$200K+

4.4%108

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

Residentsi

Avg. Tenant Renti

$380/mo

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers8 homes

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 855 homes93% occupied$380/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $75,427/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $23K/yr

83%

Very low income$23K–$38K/yr

17%

Who Receives This Housing

68% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

13% of subsidized households are minority

41% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

58% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

951.7%

By Region

Top Countries

Canada

Mexico

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

3,176

Avg. Commutei

24.4 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

3,256

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

386(8.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

89.8%Insured

10.2%Uninsured