City · Clark County, Wisconsin

Colby, Wisconsin

Colby is a city in Clark County, Wisconsin, part of the Wausau, WI metro area. It has 1,907 residents. Colby, Wisconsin has a quality-of-life score of 44 out of 100 (moderate), ranking #8,774 of 15,651 US cities and towns. Within Wisconsin it ranks #388 of 396 cities and towns. It ranks best on public libraries (high), property crime rate (low) and time spent in the emergency room (low). It ranks worst on primary care physicians (low), access to exercise opportunities (low) and flu vaccinations (low).

44Moderate

Quality-of-life score: #8,774 of 15,651 cities and towns
Wisconsin: #388 of 396 in WI
Population: 1,907 (2020-2024)
Land area: 2 mi²
Density: 1,164.6 /mi²
FIPS code: 5516150

Percentile-based score (100 is the best in the country) from 73 of 80 indicators, with the default “Explorer” weights.

Open in the map

Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US cities and towns.

Safety74#4,060/15,637
Economy34#10,389/15,631
Housing65#5,263/14,977
Health38#9,626/15,609
Healthcare7#14,582/15,650
Environment97#409/15,453
Education30#11,030/15,649
Infrastructure17#12,948/15,650
Community64#5,619/15,651
Leisure & amenities41#9,275/15,651

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Colby, Wisconsin ranks highest and lowest among US cities and towns (score = percentile, 100 = best). Values marked “Clark County value” are the county’s: the source publishes no figure for this city or town, and the county holding most of its residents stands in.

Strengths

Public libraries · high2.9 /10k
95/100Wisconsin 0.8 /10kUnited States 0.5 /10k2024Institute of Museum and Library ServicesClark County value
Property crime rate · low405 /100k
93/100Wisconsin 1,017 /100kUnited States 1,535 /100k2025Federal Bureau of InvestigationCovers part of the area: some reporting agencies or member counties have no figureClark County value
Time spent in the emergency room · low112 min
91/100Wisconsin 140 minUnited States 170 minOct 2024–Sep 2025Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesClark County value
Hot days · low3 days
91/100Wisconsin 4 daysUnited States 42 days2016-2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental InformationClark County value
Restaurants and bars · high12.6 /10k
89/100Wisconsin 12.7 /10kUnited States 9.0 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsClark County value
Unemployment rate · low1.4%
89/100Wisconsin 3.2%United States 4.3%2020-2024U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Census table B23025High uncertainty

Weaknesses

Primary care physicians · low14 /100k
2/100Wisconsin 82 /100kUnited States 76 /100k2022University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteClark County value
Access to exercise opportunities · low34.9%
4/100Wisconsin 83.6%United States 84.5%2022 & 2024University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteClark County value
Flu vaccinations · low27.0%
4/100Wisconsin 50.0%United States 44.0%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteClark County value
Pharmacies · low0.6 /10k
4/100Wisconsin 1.7 /10kUnited States 1.8 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsClark County value
Arts, entertainment and recreation · low1.7 /10k
8/100Wisconsin 4.8 /10kUnited States 5.5 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsClark County value
Public EV charging ports · low0.6 /10k
8/100Wisconsin 4.0 /10kUnited States 7.6 /10kOct 2026U.S. Department of EnergyClark County value

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

PopulationFalling
2,038 (2015-2019) → 1,907 (2020-2024)
−6.4%5 yearsCensus table B01003US 328,329,953 → 340,003,797
Home price to income ratioWorsening
2.3× (2015-2019) → 3.7× (2020-2024)
+58%5 yearsCensus table B25077US 3.5× → 4.1×
Poverty rateWorsening
11.4% (2015-2019) → 19.1% (2020-2024)
+7.7 pts5 yearsCensus table B17001US 12.3% → 12.1%
Uninsured residents (under 65)Worsening
9.3% (2015-2019) → 16.1% (2020-2024)
+6.8 pts5 yearsCensus table B27010US 10.8% → 9.8%
Bachelor's degree or higherImproving
9.6% (2015-2019) → 16.1% (2020-2024)
+6.5 pts5 yearsCensus table B15003US 32.1% → 35.7%
Rent-burdened householdsWorsening
44.2% (2015-2019) → 50.2% (2020-2024)
+6 pts5 yearsCensus table B25070US 49.6% → 51.1%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Colby, Wisconsin improved on 1 of 13 measures with a comparison and declined on 1. 11 moved within the margin of error and 0 barely changed.

Earlier (2015-2019)
Latest (2020-2024)
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among cities and towns: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts.

Improved1

Bachelor's++6.5 points9.6% → 16.1%

Declined1

Price / income+1.4×2.3× → 3.7×

All 13 measures

Change of every measure of Colby, Wisconsin between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Average commute time	18.2 min2015-2019	20.4 min2020-2024	+2.2 min	Within the margin of error	25%
Bachelor's degree or higher	9.6%2015-2019	16.1%2020-2024	+6.5 points	Improved	77%
Broadband subscriptions	79.7%2015-2019	84.5%2020-2024	+4.7 points	Within the margin of error	30%
Child poverty rate	15.6%2015-2019	16.4%2020-2024	+0.9 points	Within the margin of error	35%
High school diploma or higher	82.6%2015-2019	86.5%2020-2024	+3.9 points	Within the margin of error	75%
Home price to income ratio	2.3×2015-2019	3.7×2020-2024	+1.4×	Declined	12%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.3932015-2019	0.4142020-2024	+0.021	Within the margin of error	33%
Median household income	$49,3382015-2019	$50,1142020-2024	+1.6%	Within the margin of error	9%
Poverty rate	11.4%2015-2019	19.1%2020-2024	+7.7 points	Within the margin of error	7%
Public transit commuters	0.0%2015-2019	0.0%2020-2024	0 points	Within the margin of error	60%
Rent as share of income	27.1%2015-2019	30.1%2020-2024	+3 points	Within the margin of error	33%
Rent-burdened households	44.2%2015-2019	50.2%2020-2024	+6 points	Within the margin of error	34%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	9.3%2015-2019	16.1%2020-2024	+6.8 points	Within the margin of error	6%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 14640 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 15651 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Cities and towns like Colby, Wisconsin five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Colby, Wisconsin in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Colby, Wisconsin itself moved −12.6 points in standing on average over the same 9 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

1,907 residents (±290)

Men
Women

80 and over†
70–79†
60–69†
50–59†
40–49†
30–39†
20–29†
10–19†
Under 10†

Share of all residents, each sex

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: 20–29 men (−3.3 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B01001View table on data.census.gov

Race and Hispanic origin

1,907 residents (±290)

Colby, Wisconsin
Wisconsin share

White72%1,364
Black0.0%0
Hispanic or Latino25%†485
Asian0.0%0
American Indian and Alaska Native0.0%0
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander0.0%0
Other or two or more races3.0%†58

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: White (−11.2 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B03002View table on data.census.gov

Education

1,216 residents (±154)

Colby, Wisconsin
Wisconsin share

No high school diploma13%†164
High school or GED52%631
Some college12%†142
Associate degree6.8%†83
Bachelor's degree12%†150
Graduate degree3.8%†46

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Bachelor's degree (+6.7 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B15003View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

689 households (±74)

Colby, Wisconsin
Wisconsin share

Under $25k21%†146
$25k–50k29%†198
$50k–75k24%†166
$75k–100k7.0%†48
$100k–150k11%†78
$150k–200k6.5%†45
$200k or more1.2%†8

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: $75k–100k (−5.5 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B19001View table on data.census.gov

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

689 households (±74)

Colby, Wisconsin
Wisconsin share

Own53%368
Rent47%321

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Own (−13.6 points).

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B25003View table on data.census.gov

Rent paid

314 households (±69)

Colby, Wisconsin
Wisconsin share

Under $75021%†65
$750–1,00054%†169
$1,000–1,50019%†60

Home values

368 homes (±51)

Colby, Wisconsin
Wisconsin share

Under $150k37%†137
$150k–250k48%176
$250k–400k14%†50

Age of homes

713 homes (±75)

Colby, Wisconsin
Wisconsin share

2010 or later4.1%†29
2000–20095.9%†42
1980–199926%†182

Size of homes

713 homes (±75)

Colby, Wisconsin
Wisconsin share

Studio3.6%†26
1 bedroom10%†73
2 bedrooms34%240

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

755 workers (±128)

Colby, Wisconsin
Wisconsin share

Drive alone79%600
Carpool6.5%†49
Public transit0.0%0
Walk3.7%†28
Bike3.2%†24
Work from home7.2%†54
Other0.0%0

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Bike (+2.9 points).

† Wide margin of error (more than 30% of the estimate): read with care.

Table view

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–2024 · Table B08301View table on data.census.gov

Time to get to work

701 workers (±111)

Colby, Wisconsin
Wisconsin share

Under 15 min51%358
15–29 min24%†165
30–44 min16%†113

Counts are survey estimates, each with a margin of error. The grouping into ranges is ours; every count is the Census Bureau's.

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay by metro area, not by county or city. The metro area page lists its largest occupations and lets you look up any job.

Pay in the Wausau, WI

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

The Census Bureau publishes business counts by county, not by city, so these are the figures of Clark County, the county holding most of Colby's residents.

Clark County has 779 employer establishments, 223 for every 10,000 residents (0.90× the US rate of 248; 0.91× Wisconsin's), with 9,517 paid employees at an average annual pay of $49,908. The Census Bureau also counts 2,777 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 779; 2,777 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 223; US 248 · Wisconsin 244
Paid employees: 9,517
Average annual pay: $49,908; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Clark County by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Specialty trade contractors	87	24.9	1.61×More than typical	325	$58,148	275
Restaurants and other eating places	47	13.5	0.73×Fewer than typical	436	$14,608	15
Foundation, structure and building exterior contractors	41	11.8	3.73×More than typical	151	$63,543	62
Truck transportation	39	11.2	2.21×More than typical	404	$62,807	175
Ambulatory health care services	37	10.6	0.51×Fewer than typical	185	$47,989	36
Religious organizations	31	8.9	1.60×More than typical	174	$17,586	—
Full-service restaurants	29	8.3	1.08×About typical	201	$10,224	4
Construction of buildings	26	7.5	0.99×About typical	77	$54,987	141
Automotive repair and maintenance	25	7.2	1.42×More than typical	72	$36,389	69
Building equipment contractors	21	6	1.00×About typical	100	$57,640	33
Drinking places (alcoholic beverages)	20	5.7	4.73×More than typical	48	$10,021	26
Gasoline stations	20	5.7	1.77×More than typical	303	$26,208	—

Rank places for an industry Open Clark County

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 34,880 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contracts performed here

No federal contract obligations recorded here in FY2026.

Grants and other federal assistance are counted by county here, not split among cities: Colby is mostly in Clark County.

See federal money in Clark County

Representation in Congress

Members serving today, with their record in the current Congress (party-unity votes cast with their caucus, roll calls missed). Not a grade.

Colby, Wisconsin is represented in the 119th Congress by these members.

House

Thomas P. TiffanyR-WI-7 · 100% of residentsWith party 99%Missed 10.4%

Senate

Explore Congress The 2026 races

County

A city can lie in several counties. Some indicators are published for counties only: the page marks them.

Metro area

The metro or micro area the city belongs to.

Wausau, WI95

Other cities and towns in Clark County

Largest first.

Similar cities and towns

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Building Permits SurveyU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-08
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement

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