The Town FilesColfax, Minnesota
Township in Kandiyohi County · population 612 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $358,100
- Household income
- $80,536
- Jan low / Jul high
- 1° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 42.8
Colfax is a township of 612 people in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $358,100, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Minnesota towns, better for retirees than 97% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 93% of Minnesota towns.
How Colfax ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Colfax is worth $358,100, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $80,536, which is more affordable than 12% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $1,344 a month. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colfax | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $358,100 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $1,344 | $991 |
| Median household income | $80,536 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.6% | — |
Who lives in Colfax
| People | Colfax | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.3% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.7% | 90.2% |
Weather in Colfax
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 1.4°F. About 31.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.2 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colfax since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on September 19, 2017 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 25, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on July 13, 2023.
Severe weather in Kandiyohi County since 1996
Kandiyohi County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 9, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4666: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 8, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4658: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| July 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Kandiyohi County
Kandiyohi County had 23,173 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,980 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Colfax itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Towns near Colfax
- Lake Andrew, MN6.4 mi · 978 people · home $493,100
- Burbank, MN6.7 mi · 571 people · home $360,000
- Belgrade, MN6.8 mi · 738 people · home $163,400
- New London, MN7.9 mi · 1,252 people · home $218,800
- New London, MN8.5 mi · 2,952 people · home $351,400
- Brooten, MN9.4 mi · 626 people · home $144,000
- Spicer, MN11.3 mi · 1,112 people · home $294,700
- Dovre, MN11.7 mi · 2,163 people · home $382,200
Colfax questions
Is Colfax, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colfax scores better for retirees than 97% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 89%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Colfax?
The median owner-occupied home in Colfax is valued at $358,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,536, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,344 a month.
What is the weather like in Colfax?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 1.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.4 inches of precipitation a year and 50.2 inches of snow.
Does Colfax get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Colfax since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on September 19, 2017. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)