About one in 15 people in Columbia County, Wisconsin, lives below the poverty line
In Columbia County, 6.7% of people lived below the poverty line. That is lower than in 96% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 95% of U.S. counties.
What drives Columbia County's score
In Columbia County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 30.1. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 10.9.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Columbia County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Columbia County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 30.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector13.1% · August 202512th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people122.2 · 202548th percentile
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- 23.5 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent16.4% · 2020 to 202439th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income16.0% · fiscal year 20277th percentile
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- 15.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.1% · August 202512th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.6% · August 202526th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score27.9% · second quarter of 20268th percentile
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- 14.9 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202618th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working13.7% · 2020 to 202410th percentile
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- 11.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line6.7% · 20243rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line7.1% · 20243rd percentile
- People with a disability11.9% · 2020 to 202414th percentile
- People without health insurance5.0% · 2020 to 202419th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$85,096 · 202414th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Columbia County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Columbia County, 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Columbia County
Wisconsin
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Columbia County, benefit checks' share of income has nearly doubled since 1969, reaching 16.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about four times as much as benefit checks
In Columbia County, Wisconsin, benefit checks' share of income nearly doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 16.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Columbia County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 6.9% in 2011 to 8.5% in 2012.
The share of households in Columbia County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2018 and has since fallen to 8.9%
Low on the chart: 5.9% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Columbia County, Wisconsin.
How Columbia County has changed
Columbia County's population had its largest rise, from 45,045 in 1989 to 48,613 in 1994.
Columbia County's population rose by about half from 1969 to 2024, reaching 58,113
High on the chart: 58,274 in 2019. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Columbia County, Wisconsin.
The number of jobs located in Columbia County had its largest rise, from 17,783 in 1995 to 19,615 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Columbia County rose by about a third from 1990 to 2025, reaching 21,764
High on the chart: 21,770 in 2020. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Columbia County, Wisconsin.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.6% | 2025 3.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 8.1% | 2024 6.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,558 | 2024 $85,096 |
The table uses 3.0% for 2025; the score uses 3.2% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Columbia County's history
1846
Created in 1846 as part of Wisconsin Territory. Wikipedia
1951
A tornado in September 1951 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2004
Hail in August 2004 did $6 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2006
Hail in June 2006 did $500 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
A flash flood in June 2008 did $15.66 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 58,490, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1976
11 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Columbia County, 6 of them for flooding. FEMA
Columbia County beside its neighbors
All seven counties that border Columbia County score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, Columbia County ranks 7th of the eight; Adams County is highest, at 34.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County, WI | 47 | 12.1% | 34.1% |
| Green Lake County, WI | 23 | 13.6% | 26.2% |
| Marquette County, WI | 22 | 12.2% | 30.2% |
| Juneau County, WI | 21 | 10.4% | 30.0% |
| Sauk County, WI | 14 | 8.6% | 18.2% |
| Dane County, WI | 7 | 9.9% | 11.8% |
| Dodge County, WI | 5 | 9.2% | 21.1% |
| Columbia County, WI | 4 | 6.7% | 16.4% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Columbia County the poorest county in Wisconsin?
No, Columbia County's poverty rate was 6.7% in 2024, 66th highest of 72 in Wisconsin (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Menominee County, at 24.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Columbia County ranks 62nd of 72 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Columbia County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Action of Wisconsin
Legal aid
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Disability Rights Wisconsin
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Columbia County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Columbia County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.