Columbus is an incorporated village in Luna County, New Mexico, United States, about 3 miles (5 km) north of the Mexican border. It is considered a place of historical interest, as the scene of a 1916 attack by Mexican general Francisco "Pancho" Villa that caused the United States to send 10,000 troops there in the Mexican Expedition (originally referred to as the "punitive Mexican Expedition"). As of the 2020 census, Columbus had a population of 1,442.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code88029

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Living in Columbus

Work & commute in Columbus

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Most working residents leave Columbus for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are Deming (36%), Las Cruces (11%) and El Paso (6%). Half commute less than 31 miles.

Deming

36%

Las Cruces

11%

El Paso, TX

Silver City

4%Work in townlive and work in Columbus 31 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 242Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Columbus →

Health in Columbus

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 23% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 88% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with New Mexico

2better than NM·14worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 16 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 4▼ 7 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 1▲ 3▼ 3 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

6.2%Fewer adults who have had cancerNM 7.4% · better 77.2%More adults treating high blood pressureNM 73.3% · better 27.6%More uninsured adultsNM 15.6% · worse

Care nearby

Mimbres Valley Medical CenterDeming · 30.9 mi · ER · rural critical access

Ben Archer Health Center - ColumbusColumbus · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Columbus · CMS · HRSAHealth in Columbus →

Natural hazards in Columbus

Moderate

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 53% of U.S. communities.

🌵 Drought🌊 Inland flooding🌡️ Heat waves

0Does Columbus flood?no paid flood claims on record 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Columbus

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Columbus →

Climate in Columbus

Full climate →

Columbus has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 96°, a January night drops to 29°, and snow is almost unheard of.

60° / 31°Winter

80° / 46°Spring

95° / 67°Summer

79° / 48°Fall

How much snow does Columbus get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 11, with the last in spring around Mar 18.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.5° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Columbus →

Schools in Columbus

All Columbus schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Columbus’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 56% of New Mexico’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictDEMINGSchools1

Columbus ElementaryElementary · Grades PK–5 · 483 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within NM. Ratings are from neighbors.