County · Wisconsin

Columbia County, Wisconsin

Columbia County, Wisconsin. Columbia County had 58,132 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.6% since 2020, while Wisconsin grew 1.3%. It holds 37 places (14 cities, villages and boroughs, 21 towns and townships and 2 census-designated) and 13 census tracts. GEOID 55021.

Columbia County is one of the 4 counties of the Madison, WI metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

58,132

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 58,490 · ACS 2020-2024: 58,272

Median household income

$85,351

±$2,745 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $77,485

Median home value

$283,200

±$7,359 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $266,500

Median gross rent

$978

±$43 (90% margin)
Wisconsin: $1,087

How many people live in Columbia County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 58,490 residents in Columbia County. The Census Bureau estimates 58,132 for July 1, 2025, down 0.6% since 2020, while Wisconsin grew 1.3%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 58,272 over 766 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −79 (58,455)
2021→2022 −72 (58,383)
2022→2023 −442 (57,941)
2023→2024 +64 (58,005)
2024→2025 +127 (58,132)

Columbia County in Wisconsin. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Columbia County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	58,272	5,914,872	+1,139
Households	24,158±332	2,479,480	no clear change
Average household size	2.35±0.03	2.33	no clear change
Housing units	26,880±99	2,778,572	no clear change

Columbia County's population since 2000

From 52,468 in 2000 to 58,132 in 2025: up 10.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 52,468
2005 (estimate) 55,409
2010 Census 56,833
2015 (estimate) 56,683
2020 Census 58,490
2025 (estimate) 58,132

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Columbia County?

Columbia County holds 37 places: 14 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places), 21 towns and townships (county subdivisions with their own government) and 2 census-designated places. The largest is Portage with 9,956 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Columbia County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Portage	city	10,581	10,236±26	$64,722	$204,900	13.5%	100%
Columbus	city	5,540	5,488±15	$75,427	$230,600	6.9%	100%
Lake Wisconsin	CDP	4,616	5,384±429	$124,127	$452,400	3.0%	98%
Lodi (town)	town	3,282	3,289±49	$120,179	$441,500	1.9%	100%
Lodi	city	3,189	3,204±13	$117,584	$328,200	5.1%	100%
Pacific (town)	town	2,791	2,781±28	$87,941	$285,600	3.2%	100%
Poynette	village	2,590	2,678±39	$93,500	$296,600	6.6%	100%
Dekorra (town)	town	2,500	2,467±321	$122,222	$370,600	5.5%	100%
Wisconsin Dells	city	2,942	2,547±408	$54,688	$207,100	11.3%	83%
Pardeeville	village	2,074	1,672±190	$64,902	$230,400	8.8%	100%
West Point (town)	town	2,028	2,229±293	$139,632	$532,900	2.2%	100%
Fall River	village	1,801	1,678±185	$72,167	$243,700	9.5%	100%
Wyocena (town)	town	1,756	2,101±273	$97,609	$307,300	4.1%	100%
Caledonia (town), Columbia County	town	1,495	1,408±248	$98,182	$390,500	14.2%	100%
Lewiston (town)	town	1,262	1,570±372	$90,852	$244,100	9.6%	100%
Marcellon (town)	town	1,140	760±191	$99,063	$317,100	0.5%	100%
Rio	village	1,119	1,141±149	$67,833	$196,100	17.6%	100%
Lowville (town)	town	1,017	1,042±161	$108,063	$348,800	6.8%	100%
Fountain Prairie (town)	town	938	875±108	$105,750	$406,900	3.2%	100%
Scott (town), Columbia County	town	857	906±215	$59,205	$324,600	25.2%	100%
Arlington	village	844	946±169	$98,750	$291,600	2.3%	100%
Fort Winnebago (town)	town	812	798±177	$86,250	$257,400	7.3%	100%
Arlington (town)	town	803	807±159	$130,000	$350,000	1.4%	100%
Cambria	village	777	795±138	$69,323	$157,900	8.4%	100%
Randolph (town)	town	762	1,005±237	$95,000	$269,000	7.3%	100%
Wyocena	village	756	676±109	$83,269	$223,500	11.6%	100%
Leeds (town)	town	755	870±172	$98,611	$332,700	3.3%	100%
Otsego (town)	town	670	755±125	$86,667	$371,900	7.0%	100%
Columbus (town)	town	626	556±113	$100,982	$355,300	10.4%	100%
Newport (town)	town	607	597±119	$86,667	$256,600	6.1%	100%
Hampden (town)	town	581	733±133	$104,375	$367,900	1.6%	100%
Springvale (town), Columbia County	town	539	337±47	$90,313	$338,200	7.4%	100%
Courtland (town)	town	491	558±119	$91,375	$237,800	2.9%	100%
Randolph	village	1,796	1,642±195	$58,571	$176,800	6.9%	26%
Friesland	village	320	297±61	$86,250	$151,300	3.7%	100%
Doylestown	village	280	160±27	$75,000	$206,700	3.8%	100%
DekorraGEOID 5519365	CDP	255	161±75	$120,227	$275,000	1.9%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Columbia County?

The median resident of Columbia County is 43.7 years old; 20.5% are under 18 and 19.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 4.1%. 2.4% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Columbia County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	43.7±0.2	40.2	+1.3
Under 18 years	20.5%	21.4%	–
65 years and over	19.6%±0.1 pts	18.5%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4.1%	8.0%	+0.7 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	90.3%±0.3 pts	78.6%	−2.3 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	1.6%±0.3 pts	5.9%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.8%±0.1 pts	2.9%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.1 pts	0.5%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.0%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	2.6%±0.5 pts	3.7%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.2%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Born outside the United States	2.4%±0.4 pts	5.2%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	4.5%±0.6 pts	9.0%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.9%±0.7 pts	6.2%	–
With a disability	11.9%±0.9 pts	12.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	5.0%±0.9 pts	5.2%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	94.0%±0.8 pts	93.6%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	26.0%±1.3 pts	33.4%	+2.7 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	8.0%±0.9 pts	11.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.6%±0.2 pts	2.0%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Columbia County earn?

Half of Columbia County's 24,158 households earn less than $85,351 a year (±$2,745), against $77,485 in Wisconsin. In 2015-2019 it was $83,693 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Columbia County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$85,351±$2,745	$77,485	no clear change
Mean household income	$102,726±$2,603	$101,466	–
Per capita income	$42,924±$990	$43,373	no clear change
People below the poverty line	7.8%±1.0 pts	10.6%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	8.7%±2.5 pts	12.8%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	8.9%±1.1 pts	11.1%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	88.3%±1.1 pts	90.3%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Columbia County?

Owners occupy 76.7% of Columbia County's occupied homes and renters 23.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $283,200 by its owner (±$7,359). The median renter pays $978 a month including utilities, and 28.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Columbia County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$283,200±$7,359	$266,500	+$45,799
Median gross rent	$978±$43	$1,087	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	28.1%±4.1 pts	35.0%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,747±$53	$1,689	–
Owner-occupied homes	76.7%±1.5 pts	67.8%	+2.3 pts
Housing units	26,880±99	2,778,572	no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.6%±0.4 pts	0.5%	–
Rental vacancy rate	4.6%±2.1 pts	4.5%	–
Single-family detached homes	76.6%±1.6 pts	66.2%	–
Mobile homes	2.7%±0.5 pts	3.1%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.6%±0.4 pts	1.4%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	21.7%±1.4 pts	17.8%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Columbia County building?

Builders took permits for 167 new housing units across Columbia County in 2025 (143 single-family), 2.9 per 1,000 residents.

2019 190 units
2020 292 units
2021 145 units
2022 200 units
2023 220 units
2024 181 units
2025 167 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Columbia County get to work?

76.9% of Columbia County's workers drive alone and 12.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Columbia County	Wisconsin	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	65.7%±1.0 pts	65.3%	–
Unemployment rate	3.1%±0.8 pts	3.2%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	76.9%±1.4 pts	74.4%	–
Carpooled	7.0%±0.8 pts	7.3%	–
Public transportation	0.3%±0.2 pts	1.1%	–
Walked	2.2%±0.6 pts	2.6%	–
Worked from home	12.5%±1.2 pts	13.1%	+7.5 pts
Mean travel time to work	26.0 min±0.8	22.2 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Columbia County's census tracts?

Columbia County is divided into 13 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $60,787 (Tract 9705) to $122,165 (Tract 9709).

Census tracts of Columbia County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 970155021970100	Cambria (11%)	4,099	4,277±264	$80,000	$231,000	$742	10.3%
Tract 970255021970200	Pardeeville (18%)	5,921	5,497±350	$85,286	$265,900	$982	5.7%
Tract 970355021970300	Wisconsin Dells (37%)	4,046	4,319±523	$70,475	$232,900	$979	10.2%
Tract 9704.0155021970401	Portage (75%)	2,968	2,760±282	$70,355	$216,100	$1,150	8.1%
Tract 9704.0255021970402	Portage (81%)	3,878	3,838±380	$76,750	$194,100	$829	9.3%
Tract 970555021970500	Portage (92%)	4,334	4,098±408	$60,787	$210,500	$1,001	20.0%
Tract 970655021970600	Portage (6%)	4,818	4,681±352	$86,538	$325,500	not published	6.7%
Tract 970755021970700	Poynette (42%)	4,386	4,467±271	$97,667	$313,500	$896	7.3%
Tract 970855021970800	Lodi (39%)	5,770	5,942±303	$117,895	$373,800	$1,384	3.5%
Tract 970955021970900	Lake Wisconsin (33%)	4,823	4,975±250	$122,165	$403,300	$1,268	1.9%
Tract 971055021971000	Rio (16%)	3,937	4,110±293	$90,595	$301,300	$925	8.8%
Tract 971155021971100	Fall River (12%)	3,733	3,639±248	$90,135	$328,200	$1,142	6.9%
Tract 971255021971200	Columbus (78%)	5,777	5,669±73	$76,616	$234,100	$874	6.8%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Columbia County compare with Wisconsin's other counties?

Columbia County's rank among Wisconsin's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	26th of 72
Growth 2020-2025	65th of 72
Residents per square mile	26th of 72
Median household income	8th of 72
Median home value	10th of 72
Median gross rent	23rd of 72
Poverty rate	61st of 72
Bachelor's degree or higher	31st of 72
Median age	37th of 72

Every county in Wisconsin

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Columbia County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.