What are the schools like in Colfax, IA?

Colfax is served primarily by Colfax-Mingo Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.1:1.

What is the median household income in Colfax?

The median household income in Colfax, IA is $81,076 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.9%.

What is the weather like in Colfax, IA?

Colfax has an average high temperature of 30.0°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.7 inches.

Colfax, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Colfax, IA affordable or expensive?

Colfax's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Colfax is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $141,300 and the median rent is $864 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Colfax, IA?

Colfax has a violent crime rate of 132.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 309.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Colfax, IA a Good Place to Live?

Colfax is a small town of 2,186 in Iowa, with a median household income of $81,076 and a 5.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Colfax stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Colfax is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Colfax city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.7

Colfax's overall cost of living index is 92.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Colfax costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Colfax, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$141,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$864	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$81,076	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Colfax's violent crime rate is 132.5 per 100,000 residents — 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

132.5 /100k

Property Crime

309.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Colfax is served primarily by Colfax-Mingo Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Colfax, IA	National Avg
School District	Colfax-Mingo Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Colfax sees average highs of 30.0°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 36.6 inches of annual precipitation and 28.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Colfax, IA
Average High — January	30.0°F
Average High — July	83.5°F
Annual Precipitation	36.6"
Annual Snowfall	28.7"

Demographics

Metric	Colfax, IA	National Avg
Population	2,186	—
Median Age	33.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	22.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	27.4%	22.2%
65 and over	12.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Valeria, IA 6 mi Prairie City, IA 6 mi Mingo, IA 6 mi Mitchellville, IA 7 mi Lambs Grove, IA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Colfax

Colfax, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

50054

Colfax vs Other Cities

Colfax, IA vs Valeria, IA Colfax, IA vs Prairie City, IA Colfax, IA vs Mingo, IA Colfax, IA vs Mitchellville, IA Colfax, IA vs Lambs Grove, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Colfax, IA affordable or expensive?

Colfax's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Colfax roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $141,300 and median rent is $864/month.

What is the crime rate in Colfax, IA?

Colfax's violent crime rate is 132.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 309.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Colfax?

Public schools in Colfax are operated by Colfax-Mingo Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.1:1. 18.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Colfax, IA a good place to live?

Colfax, IA has a population of 2,186, a median household income of $81,076, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Colfax?

Colfax averages 30.0°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.6 inches with about 28.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Colfax?

Colfax, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50054.

What is the population of Colfax?

The population of Colfax, Iowa is 2,186 with a median age of 33.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Colfax?

Key numbers for living in Colfax: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $141,300, median household income $81,076, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Colfax side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.