Colfax, IA

Colfax sits about 25 miles east of Des Moines, making it an easy commute along Interstate 80 for anyone looking for small-town breathing room within reach of the metro. With a population of around 2,200, the town has a relaxed, friendly feel where neighbors actually know one another. Historic brick storefronts line the downtown area, pointing back to its heyday as a nineteenth-century mineral spring resort town. Families also appreciate the close-knit Colfax-Mingo school district, with the junior and senior high campus located right beside local parks on the west side of town.

ATTRColfaxMainStreet / CC BY-SA 4.0

Day-to-day life revolves around the outdoors and local community traditions. Residents spend sunny weekends kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing at Quarry Springs Park, or catching youth ballgames over at Lewis Park. Every August, the community gathers for Mineral Springs Days, celebrating the town's heritage with parades, live music, and family activities. It gives you the quiet pace and affordability of Jasper County living, while larger shopping centers and job hubs in Altoona and Des Moines remain less than a half-hour drive away.