Colby 73 Excellent
Colby Livability #168 ranked city in Wisconsin#4,596 ranked city in the USARanks better than 84% of areas

Pros and Cons of Living in Colby

PROS
  • Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Schools

    Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.

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What's it like Living in Colby?

Located in the state of Wisconsin, Colby is a smaller city with a population of 2,539 people. At 79%, the majority of the Colby population is White; this is followed by 2% Black and 0% Asian. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Colby. With an average one way commute time of only 17 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in Colby can be a great experience for anyone moving to the town. Having said that, in the state of Wisconsin, there are many desirable places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. Finding the best places to live in Colby and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes commute, health & safety, education, housing and other important metrics.

With a livability score of 72 out of 100, Colby is ranked #4,898 in the United States and #167 in Wisconsin. If we consider each of the categories on their own, we see that Colby ranks well for crime (A+) and housing (A-). Colby does not fare well for the following: amenities (F) and education (D-). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Low violent crime rates (murder, rape, robbery, assault) provide a safer environment for residents, reducing the risk of personal harm, property theft or violence. Low crime can also lead to increased property values and desirability. With 93 crimes per 100,000 residents, Colby has a violent crime rate that is far below the national average.

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Colby has an unemployment rate of 1.79% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Colby has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Colby is real estate affordability. Median real estate prices in Colby come in at $113,600, which is 32% lower than the Wisconsin average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Colby, the home price to income ratio is 2.4, which is 22.6% lower than the Wisconsin average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Colby

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Compare Colby, WI Livability

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      Colby transportation information

      Statistic Colby Wisconsin National
      Average one way commute17min22min26min
      Workers who drive to work76.3%80.7%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.9%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%1.9%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.3%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.0%3.3%2.8%
      Working from home13.0%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Colby, WI data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).