Columbus, NM

Full City Profile · New Mexico · Luna County County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
1,147 Population 246/sq mi density
$24,554 Median Income $13,533 per capita
$91,400 Home Value $164,490 Zillow
$394 Median Rent 30.1% income on rent
65°F Avg Temperature
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
D
Economy
1.9 / 5.0
$24,554 median income, 4.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$91,400 home value, $394/mo rent
C
Education
2.2 / 5.0
14.7% bachelor's degree or higher

Columbus, NM

At a Glance

Median Income
$24,554
67% below
$13,533 per capita
Home Value
$91,400
68% below
Zillow: $164,490
Median Rent
$394/mo
66% below
30.1% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
14.7%
56% below
52.1% high school+
Unemployment
4.9%
36% above
37.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
36.3%
13% above
14.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
65°F

How Columbus Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Columbus's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
33%
Home Value
32%
Rent
34%
Poverty
302%
Bachelor's
44%
Unemployment
136%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Columbus a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.9 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Columbus residents earn a median household income of $24,554 , which is 67% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $13,533. The unemployment rate stands at 4.9% (36% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 37.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 561 business establishments, including 62 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Columbus is $91,400 , 68% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $164,490. Median rent is $394/month, with 30.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 92.2 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1981.

Education

14.7% of adults in Columbus hold a bachelor's degree or higher (56% below the national average). 52.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 3.6/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Columbus has an average annual temperature of 65°F (18°C). Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 10.3 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 17.

Data Overview

People

Population1,147
Median Age38.4 yrs
Density246/mi²
Male / Female40% / 60%
Foreign Born36.7%
Veterans13.9%

Economy

D
Median Income$24,554
Per Capita$13,533
Unemployment4.9%
Poverty37.5%
County GDP$1,242M
Avg Weekly Wage$938

Housing

A+
Home Value$91,400
Rent$394
Ownership57.6%
Zillow$164,490
Housing Units834
Rent Burden30.1%

Health

Obesity36.3%
Diabetes15.2%
Smoking14.6%
Heart Disease6.9%
Premature Death13,152/100K

Climate

Avg Temp65°F
Rain10.3 in/yr
AQI17 (Good)
Elevation4,069 ft

Education

C
Bachelor's+14.7%
High School+52.1%
Graduate+5.3%
School Score3.6/10

Community

2024 VoteR 58% / D 39%
Commute23 min
Broadband59.5%
Internet Speed17 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries2

Did You Know?

The median home in Columbus was built in 1981.
The nearest airport is Las Cruces International (53 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.451 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
17.3% of the population has a disability.
36.7% of residents are foreign-born.
The county recorded 11 fatal vehicle crashes.