Colby vs Whittlesey
Colby, Wisconsin versus Whittlesey, Wisconsin: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Colby and Whittlesey score about the same overall (44 vs 42 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Colby | Whittlesey |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $51k | $74k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $46k |
| Home Value | $144k | $177k |
| Monthly Rent | $784 | — |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $453 | $36 |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.84% | 1.30% |
| Income Tax | 7.60% | 7.60% |
| Sales Tax | 5.70% | 5.70% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 14.66% | 12.57% |
| Unemployment | 3.9% | 6.4% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 15°F | 14°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 70°F | 69°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2 in | 34.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.0 in | 57.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 211 days | 211 days |
| Summer Humidity | 60°F | 59°F |
| Comfortable Days | 83 days | 79 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 82.7 | 69.9 |
| Air Quality | 48 AQI | 48 AQI |
| School Quality | 60.1 | 29.7 |
| Violent Crime | 539/100k | 539/100k |
| Property Crime | 850/100k | 850/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 2,132 | 95 |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 47.6 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.06 | 0.90 |
| Political Leaning | R+48 | R+48 |
| White (%) | 71.9% | 100.0% |
| Black (%) | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 24.7% | 0.0% |
| Asian (%) | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 3.0% | 0.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | — |
| Walkability | 5.2/20 | 5.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 142 mi | 143 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 85.8% | 84.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 60.98 | 315.79 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Colby or Whittlesey more affordable?
- Whittlesey has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Colby's $46k and Whittlesey's $46k.
- Is Colby or Whittlesey safer?
- Whittlesey has the lower violent crime rate. Colby reports 539/100k and Whittlesey reports 539/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Colby or Whittlesey?
- The median home value is $144k in Colby and $177k in Whittlesey, so homes are more affordable in Colby.