The Town FilesColfax, Michigan
Township in Wexford County · population 897 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,900
- Household income
- $47,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 90 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 54.2
Colfax is a township of 897 people in Wexford County, Michigan. The median home is worth $171,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 82% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 79% 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 $171,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $47,500, which is more affordable than 16% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 93.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colfax | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $950 | $955 |
| Median household income | $47,500 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.9% | — |
Who lives in Colfax
| People | Colfax | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Colfax
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 90.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 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 F2, struck on July 31, 1963 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 15, 1989.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 17, 2006.
Severe weather in Wexford County since 1996
Wexford County has been included in 7 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 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Wexford County
Wexford County had 13,163 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,377 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Colfax itself the ACS puts it at 10.8%.
Towns near Colfax
- Antioch, MI5.4 mi · 900 people · home $213,800
- Greenwood, MI5.6 mi · 633 people · home $182,100
- Cedar Creek, MI6.3 mi · 1,855 people · home $157,100
- Manton, MI6.4 mi · 1,258 people · home $125,000
- Selma, MI7.2 mi · 2,233 people · home $209,700
- Hanover, MI8.0 mi · 1,698 people · home $228,400
- Liberty, MI8.2 mi · 936 people · home $168,500
- Boon, MI9.0 mi · 650 people · home $170,500
Colfax questions
Is Colfax, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colfax scores better for retirees than 35% of Michigan towns and quieter than 64%. 29.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.2).
How much does a house cost in Colfax?
The median owner-occupied home in Colfax is valued at $171,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,500, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Colfax?
July highs average 79.8°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 90.2 inches of snow.
Does Colfax get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colfax since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 31, 1963. 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)