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Compare towns

Colma vs Colfax

127 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (7.7× in Colma) and home values (2.4× in Colma).

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Colma, CAOne of the safest townsCalifornia · 1,636 people
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Colfax, CAHomes around $499KCalifornia · 2,407 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

ColmaOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 0%of U.S. towns we grade Work4,174 jobsbased in Colma, a regional job hub Housing$1.07M typical home41% above the CA typical home All about Colma →
ColfaxHomes around $499K
Housing$499K typical home35% below the CA typical home HealthHealthier than 76%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates HistorySettled in 19102 places on the National Register All about Colfax →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Jobs per worker7.7×
Colma is more of a job hub
Colma 6.08Colfax 0.79
Home values2.4×
Homes cost more in Colma
Colma $1,062,000Colfax $434,300
Property tax bill2.8×
Tax bills are bigger in Colma
Colma $7,830Colfax $2,837
Household income2×
Households in Colma earn more
Colma $148,295Colfax $72,788
Street grid3.7×
Colfax has the more walkable street grid
Colfax 91.5Colma 25.0
Growth since 2010+17.5 pts
Colfax has grown faster since 2010
Colfax +1.6%Colma -15.9%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $3,410 more a month in Colma

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Colma$6,300/mo
Typical home $1.07M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.74% · or rent about $2,303/mo · Housing →
Colfax$2,890/mo
Typical home $499K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.65% · or rent about $1,553/mo · Housing →

The difference: $3,410 a month, about $40,900 a year, between Colma and Colfax.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
D−ColmaSafer than 0% of U.S. towns –ColfaxNot graded
Health
B+ColmaHealthier than 68% of U.S. towns A−ColfaxHealthier than 76% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
ColmaColfax
Snow a year0″7″
January low45°F37°F
July high69°F92°F
Growing season (days)365d233d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)91st79th
Outdoors & history
ColmaColfax
Trails0 mi—
Conserved land0.1%—
Settled19241910
National Register places—2
Archive photos1216
Community
ColmaColfax
Library hours a week—38 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

127 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ColmaCAColfaxCA
Colma ↔ Colfax127 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

ColmaColfax
People
Population 1,636Lowest 2,407Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -15.9%Lowest CA: +6.1% +1.6%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 38.1±4.8Highest about the CA average 35.8±3.5Lowest 6% below CA
Colma and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.6%±4.2Lowest CA: 22% 29.2%±6.6Highest CA: 22%
Colfax and Colma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 15.5%±2.8Highest CA: 15.7% 12.8%±3.1Lowest CA: 15.7%
Colma and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.7%Highest CA: 37.1% 23.6%Lowest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.5%±1.6Lowest CA: 7.6% 3.7%±2.3Highest CA: 7.6%
Colfax and Colma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $148,295±$23kHighest 50% above CA $72,788±$14kLowest 27% below CA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $1,062,000±$51kHighest 45% above CA $434,300±$24kLowest 41% below CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly $2,303±$414Highest 13% above CA $1,553±$142Lowest 24% below CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $7,830Highest 53% above CA $2,837Lowest 45% below CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 45.2%±11.4Lowest CA: 55.3% 58.1%±16.5Highest CA: 55.3%
Colfax and Colma are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.7%Lowest CA: 12% 13.1%Highest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 53.3%Highest CA: 55.9% 44.6%Lowest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1990Highest 14 yrs newer than CA 1987Lowest 11 yrs newer than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minHighest about the CA average 26 minLowest 8% below CA
Work from home 21.4%±9Highest CA: 17.2% 13.8%±7.6Lowest CA: 17.2%
Colma and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4.2%Lowest 5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.3 miLowest 33.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 6.08Highest 0.79Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town San Francisco (33%)Sacramento (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ColfaxFew work in Colma
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.1%Lowest 0.7%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 25.0Lowest 91.5Highest
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Colma neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 5d

Colma's Hidden Viewpoints

1 neighbor in Colma can answer.

Colfax neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Colfax’s Town Square.

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Bordering Colma

+ Compare
Daly City101,964 people · $1.12M homes
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South San Francisco64,305 people · $1.19M homes

Towns like Colma

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Avalon3,338 people · $936K homes
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Point Arena789 people · $436K homes
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San Juan Bautista2,033 people · $786K homes
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Sutter Creek2,702 people · $544K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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