CensusEasy
CITY

Portales

New Mexico · 11,734 residents (2025 est.) · 8.026 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Clovis micropolitan area
Compare
Notable rankings
#81Shortest commutesof 6,82612.3#217Youngest by median ageof 6,82627.1
The short version

Portales has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $50,555. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $133,400. At a median age of 27.1, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 28.1% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 27.1
US median: 38.9
Less educated
25% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 40%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,968
+8%since 2000
from 11,131 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,491 / sq mi
+8%since 2000
from 1,387 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
27.1
−1%since 2000
from 27.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:11,734 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
11K11K12K12K13K1990201020202024Portales
202412K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$50,555
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,658 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$21,996
+70%since 2000
from $12,935 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
24.0%
+12.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
28.1%
+3.2 ptssince 2000
from 24.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.443
−8%since 2010
from 0.482 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information14.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade6.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance4.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical4.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade4.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services2.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2%
US avg: 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food1.7%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction1.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Public administration0.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$133,400
+40%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$903
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $394 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
47.6%
−7.2 ptssince 2000
from 54.7% in 2000
52.4% rent
Vacancy rate
14.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
29.3%
+8.9 ptssince 2009
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.3%
−19.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+24%since 2000
from 2.1 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
45
RELATED:See current rent listings in Portales on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic56.6%(6,303)
Black2.2%(246)
Hispanic / Latino38.1%(4,244)
Asian0.8%(93)
Other0%
Diversity Score64%(7,126)
2024
White, non-Hispanic41.4%(4,958)
Black0.9%(108)
Hispanic / Latino49.8%(5,962)
Asian0.7%(80)
Other7.2%(860)
Diversity Score71.9%(8,601)
Diversity Score
72
+12%since 2000
from 64 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
25.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 25.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
86.6%
+12.6 ptssince 2000
from 74.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.6%
+0.5 ptssince 2000
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.3 min
−1%since 2000
from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.5%
+2.8 ptssince 2009
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 12.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
3.7%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
10.8%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
7.4%
−3.7 ptssince 2011
from 11.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2011
from 63.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
25.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.1%
−24.7 ptssince 2009
from 60.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Female
49.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Foreign born
8.0%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.3%
−41.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.2%
+7.4 ptssince 2012
from 11.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.8%
−66.8 ptssince 2013
from 77.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.2%
+18.8 ptssince 2017
from 69.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
75.7%
+3.6 ptssince 2016
from 72.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
21.7%
−3.2 ptssince 2016
from 24.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Portales

Hudson
Pop 11,254
Pine Castle
Pop 10,371
New Port Richey East
Pop 11,939
Mango
Pop 13,242
Places similar to Portales
Head to head

Compare Portales to nearby cities

PORTALES VS
Clovis
Income$54,820+8%
Home value$169,400+27%
Population37,127+216%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTALES VS
Levelland
Income$58,000+15%
Home value$140,400+5%
Population12,513+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTALES VS
Hereford
Income$56,868+12%
Home value$109,700−18%
Population14,976+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTALES VS
Lovington
Income$68,821+36%
Home value$166,100+25%
Population11,620−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Portales, New Mexico?

Portales, New Mexico has about 11,968 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Portales, New Mexico?

The typical household in Portales, New Mexico earns about $50,555 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Portales, New Mexico expensive?

In Portales, New Mexico, the median home is worth about $133,400, and the typical rent is about $903 a month.

How educated are people in Portales, New Mexico?

About 25.4% of adults age 25 and over in Portales, New Mexico hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Portales, New Mexico?

About 28.1% of people in Portales, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.

Has Portales, New Mexico grown since 1990?

Yes, Portales, New Mexico has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,278 residents, a change of about 12 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
New Mexico
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Portales with another place

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →