The Town FilesColfax, Washington
City in Whitman County · population 2,782 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $245,300
- Household income
- $61,914
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 39.4
Colfax is a city of 2,782 people in Whitman County, Washington. The median home is worth $245,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Washington towns, better for retirees than 97% of Washington towns, better for first-time buyers than 95% of Washington towns.
- #3 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Washington
- #4 in The 11 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Washington
- #6 in The 14 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Washington
- #8 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Washington
- #9 in 25 Small Towns in Washington With the Cheapest Homes
- #20 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Washington
How Colfax ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Colfax is worth $245,300, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 4.0 times the median household income of $61,914, which is more affordable than 86% of Washington towns. Median rent is $946 a month. 65.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Colfax | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,300 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $946 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $61,914 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.0× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 65.0% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Colfax
| People | Colfax | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.7% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 16.8 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 93.9% |
Weather in Colfax
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 25.6°F. About 20.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.1 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Colfax since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 30, 1971 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 30, 1971.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on July 15, 2022.
Severe weather in Whitman County since 1996
Whitman County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2024 | Fire | DR-4759: Wildfires |
| February 4, 2021 | Fire | DR-4584: Wildfires And Straight-Line Winds |
| September 8, 2020 | Fire | FM-5355: Babb Fire |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4481: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3427: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Whitman County
Whitman County had 19,125 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,512 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Colfax itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Colfax
2 public schools with 542 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leonard M Jennings Elementary | K-6 | 280 | 15.6 |
| Colfax High School | 7-12 | 262 | 16.4 |
Towns near Colfax
- Pullman, WA14.5 mi · 32,901 people · home $424,800
- Moscow, ID19.9 mi · 25,435 people · home $376,400
Colfax questions
Is Colfax, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Colfax scores better for retirees than 97% of Washington towns and quieter than 78%. 19.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Colfax?
The median owner-occupied home in Colfax is valued at $245,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,914, so homes cost about 4.0 times income. Median rent is $946 a month.
What is the weather like in Colfax?
July highs average 84.1°F and January lows 25.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.4 inches of precipitation a year and 33.1 inches of snow.
Does Colfax get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Colfax since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 30, 1971. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- 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)