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CITY

Colby

Kansas · 5,489 residents (2025 est.) · 3.661 sq mi
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#12Shortest commutesof 6,8269.7#61Lowest unemploymentof 6,8260.6%
The short version

Colby has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $63,494. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $163,000. At a median age of 32.3, residents skew younger than the country as a whole.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.3
US median: 38.9
Average education
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
5,387
−1%since 2000
from 5,450 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,471 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 1,489 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
32.3
−5%since 2000
from 34.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,489 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K5K5K6K1990201020202024Colby
20245K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$63,494
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,615 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,422
+77%since 2000
from $18,872 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.9%
+19.4 ptssince 2009
from 21.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.0%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 12.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.431
+7%since 2010
from 0.404 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services6.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration6.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction5.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing3.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Retail trade3.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Arts, entertainment, food2.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Wholesale trade2.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance1.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical1.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$163,000
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $77,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$750
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $370 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.1%
+2.8 ptssince 2000
from 64.3% in 2000
32.9% rent
Vacancy rate
13.5%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.1%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 17.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
59.8%
+31.2 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+15%since 2000
from 2.2 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
69
RELATED:See current rent listings in Colby on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.8%(5,221)
Black0.6%(35)
Hispanic / Latino2%(108)
Asian0.4%(21)
Other0%
Diversity Score7.4%(405)
2024
White, non-Hispanic85.2%(4,588)
Black0.6%(31)
Hispanic / Latino9.1%(490)
Asian0%(0)
Other5.2%(278)
Diversity Score33%(1,775)
Diversity Score
33
+343%since 2000
from 7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
37.0%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.7%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 93.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.8%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 8.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
9.7 min
−1%since 2000
from 9.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
82.8%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
4.1%
−2.8 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
10.2%
+4.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.5%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.6%
−3.3 ptssince 2011
from 3.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
73.7%
+2.0 ptssince 2011
from 71.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
14.6%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 17.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.4%
−28.6 ptssince 2009
from 65.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.5% in 2009
Foreign born
5.3%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 3.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
2.5%
−45.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.7%
−4.2 ptssince 2012
from 17.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.6%
−86.0 ptssince 2013
from 94.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.3%
+4.9 ptssince 2017
from 84.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
93.6%
−5.2 ptssince 2016
from 98.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.4%
+4.7 ptssince 2016
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Colby, Kansas?

Colby, Kansas has about 5,387 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Colby, Kansas?

The typical household in Colby, Kansas earns about $63,494 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Colby, Kansas expensive?

In Colby, Kansas, the median home is worth about $163,000, and the typical rent is about $750 a month.

How educated are people in Colby, Kansas?

About 37.0% of adults age 25 and over in Colby, Kansas hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Colby, Kansas?

About 8.0% of people in Colby, Kansas live below the federal poverty line.

Has Colby, Kansas grown since 1990?

Yes, Colby, Kansas has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 9 residents, a change of about -0 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →