The Town FilesColon, Michigan
Village in St. Joseph County · population 1,199 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,500
- Household income
- $58,542
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 39.0
Colon is a village of 1,199 people in St. Joseph County, Michigan. The median home is worth $153,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Michigan towns, better transit than 91% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 72% of Michigan towns.
How Colon 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 Colon is worth $153,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $58,542, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $785 a month. 71.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $785 | $955 |
| Median household income | $58,542 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.4% | — |
Who lives in Colon
| People | Colon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Colon
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 39.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colon since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 6, 2026 about 8.1 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 23 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 7, 2024.
Severe weather in St. Joseph County since 1996
St. Joseph County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County had 21,098 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,550 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Colon itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Colon
3 public schools with 553 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colon High School | 6-12 | 271 | 19.4 |
| Colon Elementary School | K-8 | 254 | 13.4 |
| Leonidas School | K-12 | 28 | 14.0 |
Towns near Colon
- Colon, MI1.9 mi · 3,325 people · home $192,400
- Leonidas, MI4.8 mi · 1,161 people · home $209,000
- Matteson, MI4.8 mi · 1,173 people · home $139,300
- Sherwood, MI7.2 mi · 1,959 people · home $130,100
- Mendon, MI7.6 mi · 881 people · home $142,900
- Nottawa, MI7.9 mi · 3,685 people · home $214,300
- Burr Oak, MI8.0 mi · 753 people · home $106,400
- Burr Oak, MI8.1 mi · 2,639 people · home $155,300
Colon questions
Is Colon, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colon scores better for retirees than 23% of Michigan towns and quieter than 68%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Colon?
The median owner-occupied home in Colon is valued at $153,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,542, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $785 a month.
What is the weather like in Colon?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 41.9 inches of snow.
Does Colon get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 6, 2026. 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)