Pine Creek in, 2014
New Columbus’s story
177 years in pictures
Census counts: 240 in 1860, 222 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2014 and 5 maps from 1894 on.
- 1849New Columbus is settled
New ColumbusPA
3 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Jakec · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
223
2025 Census estimate · +2.3% since 2020
Median home value
$186K
Census ACS
Household income
$38K
median
Median age
50.6
years
Land area
3 sq mi
Is New Columbus a good place to live?
New Columbus’ average trip to work is 39 minutes, above both Pennsylvania’s towns (26 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Only 9 of the 1,036 Pennsylvania towns we compare have a lower median household income than New Columbus. New Columbus has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes New Columbus stand out
Where New Columbus beats most towns.
Small town
223 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Huntington TownshipFishing Creek TownshipBenton TownshipNew Columbus
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to New Columbus: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in New Columbus, and how to reach them.
PowerUGI Utilities19.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet2 providers94% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have New Columbus’ trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Pennsylvania you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereLuzerne County Board of ElectionsLuzerne County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2015
ZIP codes17878, 1865517878 96% · 18655 4%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in New Columbus.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of New Columbus
Most working residents leave New Columbus for work: only 0% work in town. 19% of residents live below the poverty line in New Columbus, against 7.6% in Pennsylvania’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. The top destinations are Wilkes-Barre (14%), Union Township (5%) and Berwick (4%).
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In New Columbus0%
Wilkes-Barre14%
Union Township5%
Berwick4%
Philadelphia4%
22 mi
median commute distance
0
jobs based in New Columbus
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
New Columbus has four seasons and pleasant summers
New Columbus has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. New Columbus’ July high is 83°F.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–36°
Spring36–58°
Summer58–80°
Fall41–61°
Oct 11
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy New Columbus is
New Columbus tracks Pennsylvania closely on all 26 CDC measures. 20% of adults binge drink in New Columbus.
| New Columbus | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 34% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 17% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 17% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
0 better26 too close to call0 worse
Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital
14.3 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Inland flooding leads a moderate hazard risk in New Columbus
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 50% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in New Columbus since 2011.
50risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold waves
1
paid flood claims since 2011
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about New Columbus
16pages on New Columbus
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of New Columbus
About 2 of every 100 New Columbus residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave New Columbus for work
Where New Columbus’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
0jobs based in New Columbus
0%of working residents work in town
22 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About New Columbus
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
New Columbus is a borough that is located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 219 at the time of the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1859
- Area
- 3.1 sq mi
- Area code
- 570
Questions about New Columbus
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is New Columbus, PA a good place to live?
New Columbus has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.