Photo: NewMexConnorMcDavidFan · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Columbus is healthier than 89%
Columbus differs from New Mexico on 16 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 2 better, 14 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Columbus. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Columbus
More Columbus adults get no exercise
36.8% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 25.6% across New Mexico. Habits ↓
The nearest ER is 31 miles from Columbus
The closest emergency room is Mimbres Valley Medical Center in Deming, 30.8 miles away in a straight line. And 15.1% of adults lack reliable transportation, vs 11% across New Mexico. For everyday care, Ben Archer Health Center is closer (0.7 mi) and charges on a sliding scale. Getting care ↓
Dental care lags in Columbus
49.8% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 61.4% across New Mexico. Columbus’ county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
More high blood pressure in Columbus, and more people treating it
38.7% of adults have high blood pressure (New Mexico 34.3%), but 77.2% of them take medicine for it, vs 73.3% statewide. Checkups ↓
Columbus is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Columbus is healthier than 23%. Against the 272 towns with similar household incomes ($20K–$33K), it’s healthier than 89%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the New Mexico figure falls outside Columbus’ likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
What’s behind Columbus’ grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns. Mental distress holds the grade up (fewer adults with frequent mental distress than 72% of U.S. towns); fair or poor health pulls it down (better than 2%).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Columbus’ median household income is $26,090; among the 272 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($20K–$33K), it’s healthier than 89%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Where Columbus compares well: cancer, other than skin cancer, 6.2% (U.S. 7.9%).
Everyday habits, side by side with New Mexico
Share of adults, with the New Mexico figure marked.
4.5 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves
Care in and near Columbus
1 community health center in Columbus, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Columbus; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Columbus adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New Mexico.
Out of every 100 Columbus adults…
Columbus runs below NM on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 4. Tap one to see it as people.
How Columbus adults are doing
About the same as New Mexico on each measure.
1 in 3 Columbus adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
27% of Columbus adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 16.9% across New Mexico.
Columbus and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | C− | 36.1% | 19.6% | 14% | CDC place |
| City of the Sun | — | — | — | — |
City of the Sun: fewer than 1,000 residents. Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Columbus adults live with a disability (New Mexico 34%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Columbus
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Columbus is better than New Mexico on 2 and worse on 14; on the rest, the New Mexico figure falls inside Columbus’ likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Columbus | NM | U.S. | vs NM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 34.4%30–39.1 | 24% | 19.4% | Worse |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 19.6%17.1–22.3 | 15.5% | 13% | Worse |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 15.7%13.6–17.8 | 16.1% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 36.1%28.7–43.8 | 34.1% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 19.6%17–22.2 | 13.2% | 12% | Worse |
| High blood pressure | 38.7%34.4–43 | 34.3% | 34.4% | Worse |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 39.3%34.8–44 | 35.1% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 26.9%23.4–30.3 | 25.6% | 25.3% | About the same |
| Asthma | 9.1%8–10.4 | 9.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.2%5.5–6.9 | 7.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 9.5%8.4–10.7 | 7.2% | 6.4% | Worse |
| COPD | 7.3%6.1–8.5 | 6.6% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 4.9%4.4–5.5 | 3.8% | 3.4% | Worse |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 16.6%13.4–20 | 14.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 14%11.5–16.6 | 13.4% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 36.8%31–42.8 | 25.6% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 11.4%9.2–14 | 13.7% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.1%29.1–43.3 | 32.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 27.6%22.6–32.5 | 15.6% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 69.6%65.1–74 | 69% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 49.8%45.5–53.8 | 61.4% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 82.8%80.3–85.2 | 83.4% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 77.2%74–80.1 | 73.3% | 76.5% | Better |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 50.6%44.3–56.6 | 57.5% | 65.5% | Worse |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 69.1%60–77.1 | 70.3% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 20%16.8–23.4 | 23.2% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Feel lonely | 35.1%29.9–40.6 | 34.1% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 27.3%23.2–31.7 | 24.5% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 33.1%28.1–38.2 | 20.9% | 15% | Worse |
| Worried about keeping housing | 24.1%20.6–27.8 | 16.5% | 12% | Worse |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 15.4%13.2–17.6 | 11.2% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 15.1%13–17.4 | 11% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 27%22.4–31.7 | 16.9% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 41.5%36.2–47 | 34% | 30.1% | Higher |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 22.7%19.6–26 | 15.5% | 13.6% | Higher |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.4%16–21.2 | 15.5% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 10.6%9.4–11.9 | 8.5% | 6.7% | Higher |
| Vision difficulty | 12.3%10.8–14 | 7.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 11.6%10–13.4 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 7.6%6.6–8.8 | 4.7% | 3.8% | Higher |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the New Mexico figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Columbus
Is Columbus a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Columbus is healthier than 23% of U.S. towns: C− for health. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Columbus?
CDC estimates 36.1% of adults have obesity, likely between 28.7% and 43.8%, against 34.1% across New Mexico and 32.9% nationally.
How many people in Columbus have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 27.6% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 22.6–32.5%), against 15.6% across New Mexico.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Columbus more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from D to C+.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Columbus.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New Mexico figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.