2009-0620-Colby-CH, 2009
Colby’s story
Colby in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2009.
Explore the history →
Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri · CC BY 3.0
Population
876
2025 Census estimate · −0.8% since 2020
Median home value
$193K
Census ACS
Household income
$93K
median
Median age
31.5
years
Jobs based here
71
A commuter town
Is Colby a good place to live?
Only 1 of the 363 Wisconsin towns we compare have a lower share of residents 65 or older than Colby. Colby has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
876 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
ColbyAbbotsfordUnityGreen GroveMayvilleHullColby
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Colby: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Colby, and how to reach them.
PowerClark Electric Coop14.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterColby WaterworksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpTuesdayTrash dayTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn Wisconsin you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 20 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereTown of Colby ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP codes54421, 54422, 5440554421 89% · 54422 8% · 54405 2%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Colby.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shady Grove Mennonite School PrivateLargest elementary schoolGrades 1–8 | Grades 1–8 | 37 | – |
NCES · EDFacts
Work & commute
Colby stands out in Wisconsin and nationally, with fewer of its working residents who work locally
0.6% of working residents work locally in Colby, below both Wisconsin’s towns (8.3%) and U.S. towns (8%). Jobs based in Colby fell to 71 in 2023, 64 fewer than in 2013. Colby’s average trip to work is 18 minutes.
1%work in town
| Colby | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.6% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11% | 6.4% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $93,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Colby1%
Abbotsford8%
Colby6%
Medford6%
Thorp4%
17 mi
median commute distance
71
jobs based in Colby
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards
Colby faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 69% of U.S. communities.
31risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Colby
Colby has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Colby’s July high is 79°F, below both the Wisconsin town median (82°F) and the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
51″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter7–25°
Spring31–53°
Summer55–77°
Fall35–55°
Sep 26
typical first frost
May 13
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A larger share of adults get no exercise outside work in Colby than in most of Wisconsin or the rest of the country
36% of adults get no exercise outside work in Colby. Among 358 Wisconsin towns, just 6 have a higher share of adults who smoke cigarettes than Colby. 18% of adults binge drink in Colby.
| Colby | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 26% | 25% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 14% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 17% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
0 better14 too close to call18 worse
| What stands out | Colby | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 13.1% | 8% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 17.6% | 12.1% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.3% | 6.5% |
Aspirus Medford Hospital & Clinics
16.7 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Colby
18pages on Colby
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Colby; the nearest are
Northcentral Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Wausau36.4 mi$4,889 in-state tuitionUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens PointUniversity or college · Public · Stevens Point47.1 mi$9,488 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Colby residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Colby for work
Where Colby’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
71jobs based in Colby
1%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Colby
City in Wisconsin, United States
Colby is a city in Clark and Marathon counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,952 at the 2020 census. Of this, 1,275 were in Clark County, and 677 were in Marathon County. The city is bordered by the Town of Colby, the Town of Hull, and the City of Abbotsford. Colby cheese was first created in Colby.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,352 ft
- ZIP code
- 54421
Questions about Colby
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Colby, WI a good place to live?
Colby has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.