Colby is a city in and the county seat of Thomas County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 5,570. It is located on the north side of Interstate 70.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Colby ranks

All →

#6Shortest commute in KS #4Most-used libraries in KS #23Cheapest rent in KS All KS rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code67701

Area code785

Living in Colby

Housing in Colby

$186K▲ 2.1% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Colby home is worth about $186,000, up 2.1% in a year, 26% below the Kansas typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Colby

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Colby's police department reported only 2024 and 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Colby 0.5

Kansas 4.8

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Colby 5.4

Kansas 19.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Colby

Full picture →

56% of Colby’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Morgan (5%), Oakley (3%) and Hays (3%). Half commute less than 2 miles.

Morgan

Oakley

Hays

Goodland

56%Work in townlive and work in Colby 2 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,722Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Colby →

Health in Colby

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 67% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 90% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Kansas

≈Just like Kansas

No difference on any of 32 measures is outside the margin of error.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Nothing stands out: Colby tracks Kansas closely.

Care nearby

Citizens Medical CenterColby · 0.3 mi · ER · rural critical access

Hoxie Medical Clinic-Logan Behavioral HealthOakley · 20.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Colby · CMS · HRSAHealth in Colby →

Natural hazards in Colby

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 20% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🧊 Hail

0Does Colby flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 11 declared for Thomas County

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Colby →

Climate in Colby

Full climate →

Colby has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 27 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

45° / 18°Winter

66° / 36°Spring

89° / 60°Summer

68° / 38°Fall

How much snow does Colby get?About 27 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 9, with the last in spring around May 2.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.2° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Colby →

Schools in Colby

All Colby schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Colby’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 67% of Kansas’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Colby’s schools compare in KS →

DistrictColby Public SchoolsSchools6

Colby Elem B+Elementary · Grades PK–4 · 369 students Sacred Heart SchoolElementary · Grades PK–5 · 96 students Colby Middle School C+Middle · Grades 5–8 · 293 students Colby Senior High C-High · Grades 9–12 · 296 students Heartland Christian SchoolOther · Grades PK–11 · 80 students Heartland Christian SchoolOther · Grades PK–11 · 80 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within KS. Ratings are from neighbors.