Population 2,860 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Colfax
Household size in Colfax
| Period | Colfax | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.60 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
The average household in Colfax has 2.53 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across the Des Moines area.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Colfax
| Period | Colfax | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.0 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 37.2 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.9 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.1 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.1 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Colfax is 36.1 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. The picture is much the same across the Des Moines area. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.0, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Colfax
| Period | Colfax | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.7% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Colfax: 15.7% of all households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Colfax
Renters in Colfax
| Period | Colfax | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.9% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.6% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.1% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.1 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Colfax own their homes; 25.1% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 35.1% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Colfax
| Period | Colfax | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Colfax as nationally: 9.3%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the wider Des Moines area (7.0%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Colfax
| Period | Colfax | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1958 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1967 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | −5 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
The housing in Colfax is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1961, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Colfax
| Period | Colfax | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $669 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $627 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $712 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $810 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$140 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Colfax pays $810 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 24.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Colfax
Bachelor's degrees in Colfax
| Period | Colfax | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.2% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.6% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.1% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.3% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Colfax: 21.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Colfax
| Period | Colfax | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.7% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.7% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.8% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.5% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Colfax: 95.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Colfax
| Period | Colfax | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.3% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Colfax runs below the national rate: 4.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. The picture is much the same across the Des Moines area. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Colfax compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colfax | 2.53 | 36.1 | 15.7% | 25.1% | 9.3% | 1961 | $810 | 21.3% | 95.5% | 4.3% |
| Green Castle | 2.52 | 41.3 | 14.7% | 14.4% | 10.0% | 1976 | $885 | 20.1% | 96.5% | 7.2% |
| Goddard | 2.70 | 50.0 | 8.8% | 8.5% | 13.2% | 1991 | $968 | 19.8% | 98.9% | 1.5% |
| Valeria | 2.61 | 43.3 | 10.9% | 10.9% | 11.4% | 1992 | $1,005 | 30.1% | 95.2% | 4.0% |
| Prairie City | 2.55 | 37.8 | 11.4% | 18.9% | 4.9% | 1974 | $806 | 28.4% | 97.7% | 7.5% |
| Mitchellville | 2.47 | 40.4 | 8.2% | 16.0% | 7.1% | 1976 | $835 | 23.5% | 93.4% | 1.0% |
| Mingo | 2.53 | 46.3 | 9.8% | 11.1% | 16.1% | 1985 | $907 | 22.3% | 95.2% | 3.3% |
| Santiago | 2.77 | 35.5 | 6.0% | 7.0% | 5.9% | 2013 | $1,555 | 57.1% | 99.0% | 0.1% |
| Ira | 2.62 | 47.9 | 4.1% | 8.4% | 24.4% | 1982 | $731 | 27.7% | 96.2% | 0.5% |
| Lambs Grove | 2.17 | 50.2 | 1.4% | 21.4% | 7.3% | 1961 | $879 | 8.4% | 96.8% | 4.5% |
| Vandalia | 2.42 | 39.9 | 7.7% | 10.5% | 1.4% | 1980 | $796 | 30.7% | 98.4% | 8.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bal Harbour, FL · Yamhill, OR · Wolfe City, TX · Willacoochee, GA · Whitmire, SC · Vernon, NY · Unionville, VA · Summit Hill, PA · Napanoch, NY · Hinton, WV
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Colfax. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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