Westby, Vernon County, Wisconsin. Dumping milk at the cooperative creamery, 1942
Westby’s story
147 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1942.
- 1879Westby is settled
WestbyWI
A town of 2,435, settled in 1879.
Population
2,435
2025 Census estimate · +2.2% since 2020
Typical home
$279K
+7.2% in a year
Household income
$73K
median
Median age
43.6
years
Jobs based here
1,059
Balanced
Is Westby a good place to live?
Westby’s best subject grades are a B+ for cost of living and walkability. Westby’s January low is 8°F, against 11°F in Wisconsin’s towns and 22°F across U.S. towns. On the outdoors, just 28 of Wisconsin’s 879 towns do worse. Westby has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Westby stand out
Where Westby beats most towns.
Natural hazardsB+
Low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Typical home value
Westby$279K
Wisconsin$337K
Cost of livingB+
3.8 years of income buys a home
More affordable than 74% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
WalkabilityB+
More walkable than 73% of U.S. towns
4.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
How Westby grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Wisconsin), ordered by how far Westby is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listB+Open →Cost of livingB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.4 of 20; 4.4% of households have no carB+Open →SchoolsB+Open →HealthVernon Memorial Hospital 7.1 miles awayBOpen →Jobs & income$73K median household incomeBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksDOpen →History2 notable people born hereB−Open →Civic life4.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateSnowy winters, 80° summer afternoons, 43″ of snow–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 43.6; 25% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Westby: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Westby, and how to reach them.
PowerCity of Westby11.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWestby Waterworks1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpWestby Recycling CenterIn townOpenStreetMap
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 hereCity of Westby ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code5466754667 100%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 Westby.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Low risk in Westby, with cold waves at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 73% of U.S. communities.
27risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Cold wavesInland floodingTornadoes
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsB+
Westby’s public schools outperform 70% of Wisconsin districts
Its public schools are run by the Westby Area School District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Westby High, with 319 students.
70%of WI districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westby ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–4 | Grades PK–4 | 277 | B |
| Westby HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 319 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within WI on state tests and graduation
Climate
Westby has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Westby has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. At 80°F, Westby’s July high is where Wisconsin’s towns sit at 82°F and U.S. towns at 85°F.
43″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter11–27°
Spring34–55°
Summer58–78°
Fall38–57°
Oct 2
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade B+
Homes in Westby are worth about $279K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Westby home is worth about $279,000, up 7.2% in a year, 17% below the Wisconsin typical home.
$279KZillow home value
| Westby | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $993 a month | $1,078 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 77% | 74% | 73% |
Typical home value
Westby$279K
Wisconsin$337K
+7.2%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
About one in seven working residents works right in Westby
Most working residents leave Westby for work: only 14% work in town. Jobs based in Westby grew to 1,059 in 2023, 204 more than in 2013. 6.2% of Westby workers work from home.
14%work in town
| Westby | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 6.2% | 12% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 14% | 8.3% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $73,000 | $87,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Westby14%
Viroqua15%
La Crosse13%
Cashton5%
Sparta3%
19 mi
median commute distance
1,059
jobs based in Westby
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 73% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Westby
Westby's reported crime rate is below Wisconsin's. The violent crime rate in Westby is 0.4 per 1,000 residents. Most reported incidents are property crimes, mainly thefts.
| Westby | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 0.4 per 1,000 residents | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2023) | 8.1 per 1,000 residents | 8.8 | 13.1 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Westby0.4
Wisconsin3
U.S.3.9
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Westby8.1
Wisconsin12.6
U.S.19.5
1
violent crimes reported in 2023
19
property crimes reported in 2023
FBI crime data, 2023 · crimes reported to police
Who lives here
An age mix much like Wisconsin’s
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Wisconsin average. 22% of residents are 65 or older in Westby. Westby has grown 2.2% since 2020, to 2,435 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
43.6median age · WI 40.2
| Westby | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 22% | 20% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 23% | 21% | 22% |
| Median age | 43.6 years | 42.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 25% | 32% | 29% |
WestbyWisconsinUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma6%
High school32%
Some college20%
Associate’s17%
Bachelor’s16%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.3 points. Across Wisconsin, 49.9% of residents are women.
| Westby | WI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 7.2% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 16.2% | 10.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.4% | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.1% | 12.6% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 8% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.4% | 13.8% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.2% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.5% | 7.3% | 7% |
| No diploma | 5.8% | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 32.2% | 29.4% | 26% |
| Some college | 19.6% | 19.5% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 17% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 16.3% | 22% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.1% | 11.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 2,400, single groups can be off by several points
HealthB
Westby is healthier than 56% of U.S. towns
Westby beats the Wisconsin average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
56%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Westby | Wisconsin towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 33% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 26% | 25% |
32 measures vs. Wisconsin
1 better31 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Westby | WI |
|---|---|---|
| More adults seeing a dentist | 71% | 67.1% |
Vernon Memorial Hospital
7.1 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 Westby
18pages on Westby
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 70% of WI districts · 3 schoolsSafety0.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2023)HealthBBetter than WI on 1 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB+$279K typical home · up 7.2% in a yearWork & commuteB$73K median household income · 1,059 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities · cold waves
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Westby; the nearest are
University of Wisconsin-La CrosseUniversity or college · Public · La Crosse21.8 mi$10,070 in-state tuitionWestern Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · La Crosse22.4 mi$4,820 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Westby residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Wisconsin.
About Westby
City in Wisconsin, United States
Westby is a city in Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,332 as of the 2020 census. The name "Westby" is a Norwegian name and literally translates to "Western city".
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1896
- Area
- 2.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,299 ft
- ZIP code
- 54667
Westby’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Westby.
ChristianaViroquaWestby
How the neighbors grade
| Town | WI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westby | — | — | B+ | — | B+ | B |
| Christiana | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Viroqua | — | — | C+ | — | B+ | B− |
Westby and Viroqua have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Westby and Viroqua report no FBI crime data of their own. Christiana isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Westby with a neighbor →
Questions about Westby
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Westby, WI expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.
What is Westby, WI known for?
2 notable people were born here, including Dexter Bean and Ludvig Hektoen.