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Portales, NM
City in Roosevelt County, New Mexico.
Population
11,968
Land area
8sq mi
People per sq mi
1,491
ZIP codes
0
Portales and its ZIP codes
Portales at a glance
- Portales is about 85 times as dense as New Mexico as a whole.
- By population, it ranks 20th among 495 cities and towns in New Mexico.
- The median household income is $50,555, 21% below the New Mexico median of $64,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $133,400 (46% below New Mexico) and median rent is $903 a month.
Local data for Portales, NM
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Portales, NM, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$50,555
Poverty rate
28.1%
Median home value
$133,400
Median rent
$903/mo
Homeownership
47.6%
Bachelor's or higher
25.4%
Median age
27.1
Average commute
12.3 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (5,171), Irish Americans (1,317), German Americans (902).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Roosevelt County. PPP loans are for Portales.
Unemployment rate
4.2%
Aug 2026, +0.4 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$47,224
5,870 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$54,570
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$111M
FY 2026, $5,809 per person
How people get to work
Portales, NM, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone81.5%
- Carpooled9.4%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked5.4%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.0%
- Worked from home3.7%
Average one-way commute: 12.3 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Portales, NM, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
511
Countywide, mostly hail
Flood insurance policies
107
1.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
93° / 26°F
16.1 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone4 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Portales, NM, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
31.7%
U.S. 33.3% -1.6 pts
Diabetes
10.2%
U.S. 12.1% -1.9 pts
Smoking
12.5%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
15.7%
U.S. 11.1% +4.6 pts
Cities near Portales
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| FloydVillage | 14 mi | 3.1 |
| Cannon AFBCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 5.9 |
| DoraVillage | 17 mi | 2.6 |
| ClovisCity | 20 mi | 23.6 |
| TexicoCity | 22 mi | 0.8 |
| Farwell, TXCity | 22 mi | 0.8 |
| ElidaTown | 24 mi | 1 |
| MelroseVillage | 24 mi | 1.7 |
| CauseyVillage | 25 mi | 3.7 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Portales, NM in?
- Portales is in Roosevelt County, New Mexico.
- What is the population of Portales, NM?
- About 11,968 people live in Portales, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Portales?
- Nearby places include Floyd (14 mi), Cannon AFB (15 mi), Dora (17 mi), Clovis (20 mi), Texico (22 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023