County profile · Wisconsin
Columbia County, WI market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Columbia County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 58,132
- −0.7% since 2020
- Households
- 24,158
- Median household income
- $85,351
- +25.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $283,200
- Jobs located here
- 21,803
- Highest market score
- 81
- Primary care and pediatrics, #73 of 1,656 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Columbia County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Columbia County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 58,132 people live in Columbia County, in 24,158 households. Population estimates put the population change in Columbia County from 2020 to 2025 at −0.7%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Columbia County is $85,351 a year, 6% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 25.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Columbia County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on child care and other personal services (75).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Columbia County are for primary care and pediatric clinics (81), dentists and orthodontists (78) and tire shops (76). Columbia County ranks #73 of 1,656 scored counties for primary care and pediatric clinics.
Columbia County is part of the Madison metro area. For its number of households, Columbia County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for pet stores (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for dentists and orthodontists (50% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Columbia County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Columbia County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary care and pediatrics | 81 | #73 of 1,656 | 5 | 2.1 | $7.1M | 400 | 13 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 78 | #95 of 1,886 | 16 | 6.6 | $2.2M | 227 | 10 |
| Tire shops | 76 | #147 of 1,530 | 6 | 2.5 | $4.9M | 196 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 71 | #314 of 2,394 | 102 | 42.2 | $350K | 229 | 40 |
| Nail salons | 69 | #164 of 1,328 | 8 | 3.3 | $3.1M | 188 | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 69 | #249 of 1,769 | 18 | 7.5 | $1.4M | 159 | 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 65 | #424 of 2,088 | 34 | 14.1 | $680K | 103 | 4 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 64 | #328 of 1,327 | 6 | 2.5 | $4.9M | 159 | 8 |
| Gyms | 63 | #432 of 1,792 | 19 | 7.9 | $1.2M | 94 | 4 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 62 | #731 of 2,402 | 53 | 21.9 | $2.8M | 84 | 10 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 61 | #662 of 2,210 | 35 | 14.5 | $1.4M | 161 | 14 |
| Convenience stores | 61 | #717 of 2,261 | 20 | 8.3 | $7.5M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 60 | #671 of 2,087 | 25 | 10.3 | $2M | 156 | 14 |
| Auto repair and car care | 57 | #871 of 2,401 | 96 | 39.7 | $307K | 114 | 41 |
| Car washes and detailing | 56 | #564 of 1,451 | 11 | 4.6 | $2.7M | 106 | 5 |
| Grocery stores | 56 | #814 of 2,070 | 17 | 7.0 | $8.9M | 95 | 9 |
| Auto repair shops | 56 | #889 of 2,378 | 52 | 21.5 | $567K | 127 | 35 |
| House cleaning | 54 | #335 of 847 | 5 | 2.1 | $6.2M | 97 | 6 |
| Veterinarians | 54 | #649 of 1,485 | 11 | 4.6 | $2M | 72 | 5 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 53 | #370 of 887 | 5 | 2.1 | Index only | 180 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 53 | #898 of 2,090 | 20 | 8.3 | $4.9M | 97 | 48 |
| Roofing and gutters | 51 | #571 of 1,177 | 8 | 3.3 | $8.6M | 101 | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 51 | #636 of 1,334 | 12 | 5.0 | $1.9M | 96 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 51 | #1,071 of 2,200 | 44 | 18.2 | $491K | 56 | 5 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 51 | #1,103 of 2,222 | 33 | 13.7 | $3M | 98 | 48 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 50 | #1,168 of 2,385 | 94 | 38.9 | $267K | 126 | 25 |
| Real estate | 46 | #1,290 of 2,229 | 61 | 25.3 | Index only | 133 | 24 |
| Gas stations | 46 | #1,362 of 2,358 | 40 | 16.6 | $1.9M | 78 | 33 |
| Child care and preschools | 42 | #1,029 of 1,611 | 11 | 4.6 | $958K | 96 | 19 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 41 | #1,336 of 2,063 | 27 | 11.2 | $3.7M | 99 | 20 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 41 | #1,517 of 2,176 | 54 | 22.4 | Index only | 119 | 18 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 39 | #1,031 of 1,493 | 12 | 5.0 | $2.6M | 88 | 33 |
| Chiropractors | 39 | #1,039 of 1,490 | 18 | 7.5 | $2M | 83 | 14 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 39 | #1,672 of 2,405 | 142 | 58.8 | $696K | 105 | 69 |
| Hair salons | 36 | #1,835 of 2,339 | 65 | 26.9 | $386K | 90 | 22 |
| Electricians | 35 | #904 of 1,160 | 7 | 2.9 | $9.8M | 82 | 30 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 35 | #1,828 of 2,405 | 289 | 119.6 | $342K | 92 | 138 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 34 | #1,104 of 1,461 | 16 | 6.6 | $1.3M | 53 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 34 | #1,402 of 1,707 | 21 | 8.7 | $3.3M | 69 | 25 |
| Funeral homes | 33 | #1,149 of 1,472 | 10 | 4.1 | $350K | 52 | 6 |
| Home repair trades | 33 | #1,755 of 2,057 | 36 | 14.9 | $1.9M | 79 | 60 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 32 | #1,503 of 1,771 | 23 | 9.5 | $1.3M | 80 | 44 |
| Insurance agencies | 32 | #1,742 of 2,272 | 39 | 16.1 | $1.1M | 92 | 25 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 31 | #1,594 of 1,889 | 34 | 14.1 | $2.9M | 70 | 20 |
| Pet stores | 26 | #844 of 974 | 10 | 4.1 | $2.2M | 48 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | 19 | #668 of 699 | 6 | 2.5 | $5.2M | 50 | 5 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.7 | $12.4M | 99 | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.7 | $8.9M | 285 | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.2 | $7.7M | 190 | 4 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $14.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.8 | $17.8M | Too few | 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $25.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | $49.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.4 | Index only | Too few | 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Columbia County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $29.5M | $1,219 | 127 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $74.1M | $3,069 | 118 |
| Food away from home | $98.9M | $4,093 | 101 |
| Groceries | $150.8M | $6,242 | 99 |
| Personal care products and services | $25.1M | $1,039 | 103 |
| Child care and other personal services | $10.5M | $436 | 75 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $23.1M | $958 | 97 |
| Medical and dental services | $35.7M | $1,476 | 115 |
| Pets | $21.6M | $894 | 98 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $49.6M | $2,051 | 100 |
| Vehicle insurance | $44.8M | $1,855 | 95 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $68.7M | $2,843 | 94 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $31M | $1,282 | 91 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $351.7M | $14,558 | 87 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Columbia County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 58,132−0.7% since 2020
- Households
- 24,158
- Median age
- 43.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.1
- Land area
- 766 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 76
- Median household income
- $85,351+25.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $102,726
- Median home value
- $283,200
- Jobs located here
- 21,803
- Daytime population
- 48,504Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Columbia County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Columbia County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Wisconsin 8
- Marquette County, WI15,746 people
- Sauk County, WI66,009 people
- Dane County, WI572,674 people
- Green Lake County, WI19,263 people
- Dodge County, WI88,742 people
- Adams County, WI21,123 people
- Jefferson County, WI86,003 people
- Waushara County, WI24,868 people
Questions
How fast is Columbia County, WI growing?
Population estimates put Columbia County at 58,132 people in 2025, down 0.7% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 24,158 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 25.5%, before inflation.
How much do households in Columbia County, WI spend?
Households in Columbia County spend about $351.7M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $150.8M on groceries and $98.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Columbia County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 127, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on child care and other personal services (75).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Columbia County, WI?
Of the business types scored in Columbia County, primary care and pediatric clinics (81), dentists and orthodontists (78) and tire shops (76) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For primary care and pediatric clinics, that ranks #73 of 1,656 scored counties.
How does Columbia County, WI compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Columbia County is $85,351, 6% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 0.7% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $283,200, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for pet stores (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for dentists and orthodontists (50% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 46 of the 56 business types have a score in Columbia County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Columbia County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Wisconsin · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Columbia County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Columbia County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.