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Compare towns

Oberlin vs Colfax

63 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (3.2× in Colfax) and growth since 2010 (+12.5 pts in Colfax).

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Oberlin, LAOne of the healthiest townsLouisiana · 1,809 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.

OberlinOne of the healthiest towns
Health98% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Work948 jobsbased in Oberlin, a regional job hub Housing$104K typical home52% below the LA typical home All about Oberlin →
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 differ most

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

Street grid3.2×
Colfax has the more walkable street grid
Colfax 108Oberlin 33.2
Growth since 2010+12.5 pts
Colfax has grown faster since 2010
Colfax -8.3%Oberlin -20.8%
Average commute7 min
Oberlin has the shorter commute
Colfax 26 minOberlin 19 min
Typical home built18 yrs
Colfax’s homes are older
Oberlin 1989Colfax 1971
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Oberlin$560/mo
Typical home $104K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.21% · or rent about $448/mo · Housing →
Colfax$710/mo
Typical home $131K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.27% · or rent about $499/mo · Housing →

The difference: $150 a month, about $1,800 a year, between Colfax and Oberlin.

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−OberlinBetter than 78% of districts in the state –ColfaxNot graded
Health
D−OberlinHealthier than 2% 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
OberlinColfax
Snow a year0″1″
January low39°F—
July high90°F—
Growing season (days)267d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)75th24th
Outdoors & history
OberlinColfax
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—0%
Settled—1869
National Register places15
Famous people born here2—
Community
OberlinColfax
Library hours a week44 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

63 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

OberlinLAColfaxLA
Oberlin ↔ Colfax63 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.

OberlinColfax
People
Population 1,809Highest 1,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -20.8%Lowest LA: +2.7% -8.3%Highest LA: +2.7%
Median age 38±9.7Lowest about the LA average 41.3±15.1Highest 9% above LA
Colfax and Oberlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 25.9%±6.3Lowest LA: 23.5% 26.8%±8.4Highest LA: 23.5%
Colfax and Oberlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 19.9%±2.8Lowest LA: 16.7% 24.4%±3.8Highest LA: 16.7%
Colfax and Oberlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 8.8%Lowest LA: 27% 9.5%Highest LA: 27%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.7%±1Highest LA: 5.8% 0.2%±1.2Lowest LA: 5.8%
Oberlin and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $31,738±$8kHighest 48% below LA $26,250±$7kLowest 57% below LA
Oberlin and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $96,000±$18kHighest 56% below LA $73,400±$28kLowest 66% below LA
Oberlin and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $448±$340Lowest 58% below LA $499±$175Highest 53% below LA
Colfax and Oberlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $199 83% below LA $199 83% below LA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 47.2%±26.5Lowest LA: 54.8% 52.1%±38.9Highest LA: 54.8%
Colfax and Oberlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 22.1%Lowest LA: 18.9% 37.3%Highest LA: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 56.1%Highest LA: 67.4% 53.4%Lowest LA: 67.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 1989Highest 6 yrs newer than LA 1971Lowest 12 yrs older than LA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 19 minLowest 25% below LA 26 minHighest about the LA average
Work from home 0%±2.4Lowest LA: 8.1% 4.6%±7.8Highest LA: 8.1%
Colfax and Oberlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 12%Lowest 19.6%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 38.3 miHighest 21.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.11Lowest 2.84Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Lake Charles (8%)Alexandria (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ColfaxFew work in Oberlin
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.4 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 33.2Lowest 108Highest
Schools
School district Allen Parish—
High school in town Oberlin High School—
Students per teacherat that high school 6.4 —
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.

Oberlin neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Oberlin’s Town Square.

Colfax neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Colfax’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Louisiana towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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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