Portales, NM
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Portales, New Mexico Summary

Life in Portales research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Portales over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Portales:

  • The population in Portales is 12,023.

  • The median home value in Portales is $135,903.

  • The median income in Portales is $51,290.

  • The cost of living in Portales is 87 which is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Portales is $870.

  • The unemployment rate in Portales is 7.8%.

  • The poverty rate in Portales is 21.5%.

  • The average high in Portales is 73.4° and the average low is 42.3°.

Portales SnackAbility

6
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
5
Affordability
7
Diversity
9
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8.5
Education
6
Commute
9.5

Portales, NM Crime Report

Crime in Portales summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Portales. Key points include:

  • There were 430 total crimes in Portales in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Portales is 3,652.7 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Portales is 781.5 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Portales is 2,871.2 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Portales is 72.36% above the national average.

430
Total Crimes
72.36%
Above National Average

Crime In Portales Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Portales
/ 100k People
New Mexico
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 430 3,652.7 3,468.2 2,119.2
Violent Crime 92 781.5 717.1 359.0
Murder 1 8.5 10.5 5.0
Robbery 5 42.5 65.3 61.0
Aggravated Assault 80 679.6 587.5 256.0
Property Crime 338 2,871.2 2,751.1 1,760.0
Burglary 176 1,495.1 500.3 229.0
Larceny 126 1,070.3 1,750.9 1,272.0
Car Theft 36 305.8 499.9 259.0

Portales, NM Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Portales summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Portales. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around New Mexico. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Portales is 87 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Portales is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Portales is $135,903.

  • The median income in Portales is $51,290.

87
Portales's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Portales Comparison Table

Living Expense Portales New Mexico National Average
Overall 87 95 100
Services 95 96 100
Groceries 97 96 100
Health 91 95 100
Housing 70 87 100
Transportation 90 93 100
Utilities 88 89 100

Portales, NM Weather

  • The average high in Portales is 73.4° and the average low is 42.3°.

  • There are 34.9 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 17.0 inches of precipitation each year with 7.7 inches of snow.

StatPortales
Average Annual High73.4
Average Annual Low42.3
Annual Precipitation Days34.9
Average Annual Precipitation17.0
Average Annual Snowfall7.7
73.4°
Average High
34.9
Days of Rain

Portales, NM Photos

Roosevelt County Court House
Source: Wikipedia User Wordbuilder | CC BY 3.0
Portalesc New Mexico
Source: Wikipedia User Internet Archive Book Ima
Portales
Source: Wikipedia User Bozotexino | CC BY 3.0

Rankings for Portales in New Mexico

Locations Around Portales

Map Of Portales, NM

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Portales Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Portales

The current population in Portales is 12,023. The population has increased 0.0% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 12,023 -0.5%
2022 12,085 -0.5%
2021 12,151 3.7%
2020 11,713 -1.2%
2019 11,854 -1.0%
2018 11,974 -1.2%
2017 12,123 -1.2%
2016 12,275 -1.1%
2015 12,416 -0.5%
2014 12,481 0.3%
2013 12,441 0.9%
2012 12,327 1.4%
2011 12,161 1.2%
2010 12,017 -

Race / Ethnicity in Portales

White
45.5% (5,468)
African American
1.4% (164)
American Indian
0.5% (59)
Asian
0.6% (67)
Hawaiian
0.3% (33)
Other
0.1% (17)
Two Or More
5.4% (653)
Hispanic
46.3% (5,562)

Portales is:

  • 45.5% White with 5,468 White residents.

  • 1.4% African American with 164 African American residents.

  • 0.5% American Indian with 59 American Indian residents.

  • 0.6% Asian with 67 Asian residents.

  • 0.3% Hawaiian with 33 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.1% Other with 17 Other residents.

  • 5.4% Two Or More with 653 Two Or More residents.

  • 46.3% Hispanic with 5,562 Hispanic residents.

Race Portales NM USA
White 45.5% 36.5% 58.2%
African American 1.4% 1.8% 12.0%
American Indian 0.5% 8.6% 0.5%
Asian 0.6% 1.6% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.3% 0.1% 0.2%
Other 0.1% 0.4% 0.5%
Two Or More 5.4% 2.8% 3.9%
Hispanic 46.3% 48.2% 19.0%

Gender in Portales

Female
51.9% (6,234)
Male
48.1% (5,788)
  • Portales is 51.9% female with 6,234 female residents.

  • Portales is 48.1% male with 5,788 male residents.

Gender Portales NM USA
Female 51.9% 50.3% 50.5%
Male 48.1% 49.7% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Portales for adults over 25

  • 4.0% of adults in Portales completed < 9th grade.

  • 8.0% of adults in Portales completed 9-12th grade.

  • 27.0% of adults in Portales completed high school / ged.

  • 26.0% of adults in Portales completed some college.

  • 8.0% of adults in Portales completed associate's degree.

  • 16.0% of adults in Portales completed bachelor's degree.

  • 9.0% of adults in Portales completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Portales completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Portales completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
4.0% (480)
9-12th Grade
8.0% (961)
High School / GED
27.0% (3,246)
Some College
26.0% (3,125)
Associate's Degree
8.0% (961)
Bachelor's Degree
16.0% (1,923)
Master's Degree
9.0% (1,082)
Professional Degree
1.0% (120)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (120)
Education Portales NM USA
< 9th Grade 4.0% 4.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 8.0% 7.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 27.0% 26.0% 26.0%
Some College 26.0% 23.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 8.0% 9.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 16.0% 17.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 9.0% 10.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Portales, New Mexico

  • 6.3% of households in Portales earn Less than $10,000.

  • 7.4% of households in Portales earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 14.4% of households in Portales earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 6.1% of households in Portales earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 11.9% of households in Portales earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 26.3% of households in Portales earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 8.3% of households in Portales earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 11.4% of households in Portales earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 7.1% of households in Portales earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 0.8% of households in Portales earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
6.3% (75,193)
$10,000 to $14,999
7.4% (88,573)
$15,000 to $24,999
14.4% (173,133)
$25,000 to $34,999
6.1% (73,855)
$35,000 to $49,999
11.9% (142,627)
$50,000 to $74,999
26.3% (316,563)
$75,000 to $99,999
8.3% (99,812)
$100,000 to $149,999
11.4% (137,275)
$150,000 to $199,999
7.1% (85,630)
$200,000 or more
0.8% (9,633)
Income Portales NM USA
Less than $10,000 6.3% 6.6% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 7.4% 5.2% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 14.4% 9.1% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 6.1% 8.5% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 11.9% 11.7% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 26.3% 17.0% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 8.3% 12.4% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 11.4% 15.1% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 7.1% 7.2% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 0.8% 7.1% 12.6%

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