Columbia County, Wisconsin Income Statistics
Columbia County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Columbia County Around averageWealthier than 90% of counties in Wisconsin
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Columbia County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $85,141 | $77,698 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $59,714 | $59,261 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.6% | 11.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.2% | 9.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Columbia County is about 10% higher than in Wisconsin. Income has been growing slower in Columbia County (4.3%/yr) than in Wisconsin (4.4%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Columbia County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the Wisconsin average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Columbia County, Wisconsin grew by 53.9% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $85,141 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Columbia County
| Metric | Columbia County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.489 | 0.503 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $66,712 | $67,892 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $56,683 | $54,788 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.0% | 19.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Columbia County, it is 0.489, lower than Wisconsin's 0.503, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Columbia County, Wisconsin. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $351,015 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbia County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 23% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $572 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Columbia County | Wisconsin Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.5% | 13.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 23 | 18 | 22 |
Approximately 962 people are unemployed in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
The average commute time in Columbia County is 23 minutes, longer than the 18 minutes in Wisconsin.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Columbia County, Wisconsin has fallen from 5.8% to 3.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.4% in 2014 and fell as low as 2.8% in 2019.
Columbia County, WI Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Columbia County, WI is typical in size for this group, 58,269 residents against a local median of 66,009, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Columbia County, WI sits close to the middle of its own neighbourhood. No measure below is more than 15% off the local median, so the choice between these counties turns on things this data does not capture.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 13% above the local median at 3.1% against 2.7%. Columbia County, WI has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County, WI | 58,269 | $85,141 #2/6 | 4.3%/yr #3/6 | 3.1% #5/6 | 0.489 #3/6 |
| Marquette County, WI | 15,746 | $65,746 | 3.9%/yr | 2.7% | 0.476 |
| Dane County, WI | 572,416 | $90,408 | 4.2%/yr | 2.4% | 0.502 |
| Green Lake County, WI | 19,263 | $70,426 | 5.1%/yr | 2.8% | 0.506 |
| Sauk County, WI | 66,009 | $80,789 | 5.3%/yr | 2.3% | 0.477 |
| Dodge County, WI | 88,711 | $75,822 | 4.3%/yr | 3.8% | 0.500 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Columbia County, Wisconsin has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Wisconsin, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
How Rich Is Columbia County, Wisconsin?
Columbia County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $85,141, about 10% higher than the Wisconsin average of $77,698.
Are incomes growing in Columbia County, Wisconsin?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Columbia County, Wisconsin rose 54%, from $55,336 to $85,141. Over the same years, income here outpaced Wisconsin as a whole: +54% against +50%.
What was the median household income in Columbia County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Columbia County, Wisconsin was $81,847, up 3% from $79,499 in 2022. The Wisconsin median that year was $75,781.
What was the median household income in Columbia County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Columbia County, Wisconsin was $69,586. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $85,141.
What is the Gini coefficient in Columbia County, Wisconsin?
The Gini coefficient in Columbia County is 0.489. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Columbia County, Wisconsin?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Columbia County, Wisconsin has narrowed from about 23% to 15% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $572 since 2009.
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