The Town FilesColfax, Michigan
Township in Benzie County · population 677 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,300
- Household income
- $60,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 95 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 55.9
Colfax is a township of 677 people in Benzie County, Michigan. The median home is worth $166,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 76% of Michigan towns.
How Colfax ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Colfax is worth $166,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $60,250, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,170 a month. 73.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colfax | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,170 | $955 |
| Median household income | $60,250 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.8% | — |
Who lives in Colfax
| People | Colfax | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 17.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Colfax
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 94.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colfax since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 6.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 15, 1989.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on July 22, 2023.
Severe weather in Benzie County since 1996
Benzie County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Benzie County
Benzie County had 4,882 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,619 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Colfax itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Towns near Colfax
- Grant, MI4.6 mi · 1,212 people · home $260,800
- Cleon, MI5.9 mi · 1,063 people · home $188,000
- Inland, MI6.2 mi · 2,386 people · home $263,800
- Weldon, MI7.2 mi · 579 people · home $237,000
- Wexford, MI7.5 mi · 1,161 people · home $157,600
- Interlochen, MI8.1 mi · 694 people · home $166,900
- Green Lake, MI8.1 mi · 6,703 people · home $289,300
- Springdale, MI8.4 mi · 849 people · home $171,600
Colfax questions
Is Colfax, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colfax scores better for retirees than 43% of Michigan towns and quieter than 57%. 36.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.9).
How much does a house cost in Colfax?
The median owner-occupied home in Colfax is valued at $166,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,250, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,170 a month.
What is the weather like in Colfax?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 94.5 inches of snow.
Does Colfax get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colfax since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)