The Town FilesColfax, California
City in Placer County · population 1,995 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $434,300
- Household income
- $72,788
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 7 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 35.8
Colfax is a city of 1,995 people in Placer County, California. The median home is worth $434,300, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks quieter than 80% of California towns, better for a vacation home than 79% of California towns, better for retirees than 78% of California towns.
How Colfax ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Colfax is worth $434,300, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $72,788, which is more affordable than 58% of California towns. Median rent is $1,553 a month. 44.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colfax | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $434,300 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,553 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $72,788 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 44.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Colfax
| People | Colfax | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.8% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.6% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.8% | — |
| Work from home | 13.8% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 93.3% |
Weather in Colfax
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 36.7°F. About 45.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.2 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 38 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Colfax since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 22, 2012 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 22, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on February 19, 2024.
Severe weather in Placer County since 1996
Placer County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 9, 2022 | Fire | FM-5453: Mosquito Fire |
| September 1, 2021 | Fire | EM-3571: Caldor Fire |
Jobs and pay in Placer County
Placer County had 186,942 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,804 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in Colfax itself the ACS puts it at 10.6%.
Public schools in Colfax
3 public schools with 1,347 students, about 20.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colfax High | 9-12 | 628 | 20.9 |
| Weimar Hills | 4-8 | 385 | 20.3 |
| Colfax Elementary | K-8 | 334 | 20.9 |
Towns near Colfax
- Alta Sierra, CA5.6 mi · 7,204 people · home $563,700
- Lake of the Pines, CA6.9 mi · 4,301 people · home $664,300
- Meadow Vista, CA7.8 mi · 3,263 people · home $640,300
- Foresthill, CA9.0 mi · 1,692 people · home $524,300
- Grass Valley, CA10.2 mi · 14,016 people · home $482,200
- Alta, CA11.8 mi · 615 people · home $470,000
- Nevada City, CA12.2 mi · 3,152 people · home $677,400
- North Auburn, CA13.2 mi · 13,452 people · home $530,400
Colfax questions
Is Colfax, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colfax scores better for retirees than 78% of California towns and quieter than 80%. 12.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Colfax?
The median owner-occupied home in Colfax is valued at $434,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,788, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $1,553 a month.
What is the weather like in Colfax?
July highs average 92.1°F and January lows 36.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.9 inches of precipitation a year and 7.2 inches of snow.
Does Colfax get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Colfax since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 22, 2012. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)