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Compare towns

Duson vs Colfax

94 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (3.7× in Colfax) and jobs per worker (3.9× in Colfax).

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Duson, LAOne of the healthiest townsLouisiana · 1,282 people
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Colfax, LAOne of the healthiest townsLouisiana · 1,240 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.

DusonOne of the healthiest towns
Health92% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 81%of LA districts All about Duson →
ColfaxOne of the healthiest towns
Health97% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Work1,246 jobsbased in Colfax, a regional job hub Housing$131K typical home40% below the LA typical home 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.

Street grid3.7×
Colfax has the more walkable street grid
Colfax 108Duson 29.4
Jobs per worker3.9×
Colfax is more of a job hub
Colfax 2.84Duson 0.73
Growth since 2010+14.4 pts
Colfax has grown faster since 2010
Colfax -8.3%Duson -22.7%
Work in town+19.2 pts
More of Colfax’s workers stay in town
Colfax 19.6%Duson 0.4%
Age 65++10.7 pts
Colfax has more people 65 and up
Colfax 24.4%Duson 13.7%
Typical home built17 yrs
Colfax’s homes are older
Duson 1988Colfax 1971
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $490 more a month in Duson

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.

Duson$1,210/mo
Typical home $217K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.40% · or rent about $743/mo · Housing →
Colfax$710/mo
Typical home $131K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.27% · or rent about $499/mo · Housing →

The difference: $490 a month, about $5,900 a year, between Duson 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 Louisiana ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
A−DusonBetter than 81% of districts in the state –ColfaxNot graded
Health
DDusonHealthier than 8% of U.S. towns D−ColfaxHealthier than 3% 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
DusonColfax
Snow a year0″1″
January low41°F—
July high91°F—
Growing season (days)279d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)87th24th
Outdoors & history
DusonColfax
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—0%
Settled19091869
National Register places—5
Archive photos7—
Famous people born here1—
Community
DusonColfax
Library hours a week35 hrs46 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

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

94 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

DusonLAColfaxLA
Duson ↔ Colfax94 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.

DusonColfax
People
Population 1,282Highest 1,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -22.7%Lowest LA: +2.7% -8.3%Highest LA: +2.7%
Median age 42±11.4Highest 11% above LA 41.3±15.1Lowest 9% above LA
Duson and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 26.7%±7Lowest LA: 23.5% 26.8%±8.4Highest LA: 23.5%
Colfax and Duson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 13.7%±4.6Lowest LA: 16.7% 24.4%±3.8Highest LA: 16.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 11.1%Highest LA: 27% 9.5%Lowest LA: 27%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.9%±1.5Highest LA: 5.8% 0.2%±1.2Lowest LA: 5.8%
Duson and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $25,054±$7kLowest 59% below LA $26,250±$7kHighest 57% below LA
Colfax and Duson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $54,300±$15kLowest 75% below LA $73,400±$28kHighest 66% below LA
Colfax and Duson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $743±$331Highest 30% below LA $499±$175Lowest 53% below LA
Duson and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $215Highest 82% below LA $199Lowest 83% below LA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 54.3%±54.3Highest LA: 54.8% 52.1%±38.9Lowest LA: 54.8%
Duson and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 39.3%Highest LA: 18.9% 37.3%Lowest LA: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 62.4%Highest LA: 67.4% 53.4%Lowest LA: 67.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 1988Highest 5 yrs newer than LA 1971Lowest 12 yrs older than LA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 25 minLowest about the LA average 26 minHighest about the LA average
Work from home 3.8%±4.1Lowest LA: 8.1% 4.6%±7.8Highest LA: 8.1%
Colfax and Duson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.4%Lowest 19.6%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miLowest 21.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.73Lowest 2.84Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Lafayette (43%)Alexandria (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ColfaxFew work in Duson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 29.4Lowest 108Highest
Schools
School district Lafayette Parish—
High school in town None in town—
Louisiana 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.

Duson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Duson’s Town Square.

Colfax neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Colfax’s Town Square.

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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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