Cost of Living & Housing in Colby
Colby's cost of living centers on genuinely affordable-to-moderate housing, offset by a property tax rate that runs above both the national median and Kansas's own statewide figure.
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Learn moreAffordable-to-moderate housing, with a real cross-source spread to confirm
Colby's Ownwell-cited median home price runs $162,820, while a separately cited 2024 estimate ran $179,135 and another source's average value ran approximately $195,000 -- this record discloses the spread rather than resolving it to one number (base record).
A 1.59% effective property tax rate, above national and state medians
Colby's own 1.59% effective property tax rate (Ownwell) produces a $2,099 median annual tax bill, above both the national median (~1.02%) and Kansas's own statewide median (1.43%) cited by the same source (base record).
Kansas's 5.20%/5.58% income tax and Social Security exemption
Kansas's real, current two-bracket individual income tax (5.20% up to $23,000/$46,000, 5.58% above) and full Social Security exemption for all residents apply in Colby as they do statewide (base record).
Confirm current rent and employer data directly
A reliable, city-specific median rent figure and a confirmed, current named-employer list for Colby were not found with confidence this pass -- confirm both directly with a local property manager and the Colby Area Chamber of Commerce (base record).
Key takeaways
- Colby's housing runs genuinely affordable-to-moderate: approximately $162,820-$195,000 depending on source.
- Colby's own 1.59% effective property tax rate is above both national and Kansas statewide medians, producing a $2,099 median annual bill.
- Kansas's 5.20%/5.58% income tax and full Social Security exemption apply in Colby as they do statewide.
- A confirmed, current rent figure and named-employer list were not found with confidence this pass -- confirm both directly.
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