Population 5,786 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Colby
Household size in Colby
| Period | Colby | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.26 | 2.54 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.36 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.10 | 2.56 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.53 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.22 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Colby has 2.47 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.26 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northwest.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Colby
| Period | Colby | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2 | 37.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.8 | 37.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.0 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 34.0 | 38.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.2 | +1.4 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 34.0, Colby is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. The median age has dropped from 36.2 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the center.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Colby
| Period | Colby | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 10.4% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Colby (10.2%), a little below the national share of 11.6%. Kansas as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has risen 3.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Colby
Renters in Colby
| Period | Colby | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.4% | 30.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.8% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.6% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 30.4% | 32.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.0 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Colby own their homes; 30.4% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 43.2% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southwest and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 9.0 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Colby
| Period | Colby | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.1% | 10.1% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.5% | 10.4% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.5% | 11.3% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.1% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Colby is close to the national rate: 11.1% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has fallen 4.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Colby
| Period | Colby | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1971 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1972 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1973 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +5 | +6 |
Colby is a place of older homes: half were built before 1969, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the northeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Colby
| Period | Colby | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $570 | $769 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $503 | $858 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $645 | $950 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $775 | $1,159 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$205 | +$390 | +$606 |
The median renter in Colby pays $775 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $205 a month since 2006–10, up 36%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 33.0% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the northeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Colby
Bachelor's degrees in Colby
| Period | Colby | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.4% | 30.8% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 31.7% | 31.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.8% | 33.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.0% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.5 pts | +4.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Colby than nationally: 42.0% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 16.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Colby
| Period | Colby | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.4% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.4% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.0% | 90.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.2% | 91.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +9.8 pts | +2.2 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Colby: 96.2% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 9.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Colby
| Period | Colby | Kansas | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.0% | 6.1% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.7% | 6.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 4.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.8% | 4.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Colby has been low: just 0.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Of the 71 Kansas cities with 5,000+ people, only two have lower unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 4.2 points, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Colby compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colby | 2.47 | 34.0 | 10.2% | 30.4% | 11.1% | 1969 | $775 | 42.0% | 96.2% | 0.8% |
| Levant | 2.28 | 39.8 | 6.9% | 14.0% | 6.9% | 1962 | $752 | 28.5% | 97.9% | 0.3% |
| Halford | 2.78 | 41.3 | 2.4% | 6.2% | 15.6% | 1954 | $780 | 22.6% | 97.5% | 1.0% |
| Mingo | 2.66 | 41.2 | 3.3% | 9.8% | 14.0% | 1956 | $774 | 24.5% | 97.0% | 0.8% |
| Gem | 2.50 | 43.5 | 4.1% | 17.3% | 15.8% | 1952 | $783 | 21.5% | 97.2% | 1.5% |
| Brewster | 2.31 | 38.9 | 7.2% | 10.9% | 6.1% | 1963 | $757 | 27.6% | 98.2% | 0.2% |
| Rexford | 2.70 | 42.3 | 2.5% | 9.5% | 15.1% | 1954 | $780 | 21.9% | 97.2% | 1.0% |
| Menlo | 2.62 | 43.7 | 1.8% | 11.4% | 13.2% | 1957 | $776 | 20.6% | 96.8% | 0.9% |
| Monument | 2.11 | 33.8 | 3.6% | 35.0% | 18.5% | 1950 | $1,019 | 26.2% | 91.2% | 0.1% |
| Oakley | 2.22 | 43.6 | 5.7% | 33.5% | 5.8% | 1960 | $772 | 25.3% | 94.7% | 2.3% |
| Winona | 2.08 | 33.9 | 4.3% | 33.6% | 16.8% | 1952 | $999 | 26.7% | 91.8% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Breckenridge, TX · Rescue, CA · Blairstown, NJ · Blakely, GA · Blanchard, LA · Blanchester, OH · Frankfort, NY · Rochelle Park, NJ · Booneville, AR · Boqueron, PR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Colby. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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