The typical owner-occupied home in Columbus is worth about $230,600, 13% below the Wisconsin median of $266,500 and 31% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,774 a year in property taxes, about 1.64% of their home's value, higher than the Wisconsin rate of 1.42%. The median household earns $75,427 a year, so the median home costs 3.1 times the median income (3.4 times for Wisconsin). 63% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 77% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Columbus at a glance
| Columbus | Wisconsin | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,600 | $266,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,774 | $3,792 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.64% | 1.42% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $75,427 | $77,485 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 63% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 77% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,610 | $1,689 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.7% | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $874 | $1,087 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 23.3% | 27.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1961 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 1.8% | 10.8% | 10.1% |
| Population | 5,488 | 5,914,872 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Columbus
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Columbus home of $230,600 with 20% down costs about $1,652 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,036, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $70,811 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 26% of the median Columbus household income of $75,427; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $246,000.
The median rent here is $874 a month, so owning the median home costs about $778 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $46,120 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $184,480 |
| Principal and interest | $1,241 |
| Property taxes (1.64% a year) | $315 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $96 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,652 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $8,071 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $226,423 |
| Principal and interest | $1,523 |
| Property taxes (1.64% a year) | $315 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $96 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $102 |
| Total per month | $2,036 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Columbus
What is the median home value in Columbus?
About $230,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Columbus?
Homeowners pay a median $3,774 a year, which is about 1.64% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Columbus?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,652 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $70,811 a year.
More about Columbus
- Mortgage Refinance in Columbus
- Debt Relief in Columbus
- Home Equity Loans in Columbus
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data