CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Portales

New Mexico · 10,690 residents · 8.03 sq mi

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The short version

Portales is home to 10,690 people in New Mexico. 35.0% of locals live below the federal poverty line. The median age is 27.5, younger than the US median of 33.0. Median home value sits at $39,800. That trails the New Mexico median by roughly 33%. Households take in $16,162 at the median, 46% less than the US figure.

At a glance

Lower income

below the US median

US median: $30,130

Younger

median age 27.5

US median: 33.0

Average education

21% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

Stable housing

home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

10,690

−4%vs 2000

vs 11,131 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

27.5

+1%vs 2000

vs 27.3 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

8.03 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

202412K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 57.7%(820)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 98.2%(875)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 146.1%(648)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 1911.8%(1,257)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 2412.6%(1,342)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3414.9%(1,593)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4411.3%(1,205)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 546.8%(727)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 647.3%(784)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 746.6%(709)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 845.3%(568)

US avg: 4%

85 and over1.5%(162)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$16,162

−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $24,658 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$8,375

−35%vs 2000

vs $12,935 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

35.0%

+10.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 24.9% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$39,800

Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $52,300 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$268

−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $394 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

57.2%

+2.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 54.7% in 2000

42.8% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic56.6%(6,303)

Black2.2%(246)

Hispanic / Latino38.1%(4,244)

Asian0.8%(93)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic73.5%(7,859)

Black1.6%(171)

Hispanic / Latino33.2%(3,552)

Asian0.9%(91)

Other24%(2,569)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican43.2%(5,171)

Puerto Rican2.4%(291)

Central American1%(119)

Honduran0.6%(74)

Dominican0.4%(46)

Spaniard0.4%(43)

Salvadoran0.3%(30)

Guatemalan0.1%(15)

Asian origin

Korean0.3%(34)

Filipino0.3%(30)

Taiwanese0.2%(23)

Hmong0.1%(13)

Chinese0%(3)

Pacific Islander origin

Samoan0.3%(33)

Ancestry

Irish11%(1,317)

English8.4%(1,006)

German7.5%(902)

American7%(834)

Italian5.5%(654)

Scotch-Irish1.5%(179)

Scottish1.1%(134)

Welsh0.7%(84)

British0.6%(73)

Dutch0.6%(72)

Russian0.5%(65)

Norwegian0.5%(64)

+ 14 more ancestry groups with data

Portuguese0.4%(42)

French Canadian0.3%(39)

Subsaharan African0.3%(37)

Kenyan0.3%(37)

Turkish0.3%(37)

Arab0.3%(30)

Egyptian0.3%(30)

French0.2%(23)

Greek0.2%(23)

Polish0.2%(19)

West Indian0.1%(16)

Haitian0.1%(16)

Israeli0.1%(7)

Swedish0%(3)

RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest German population · Largest American population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

21.1%

−4.1 ptsvs 2000

vs 25.2% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

61.7%

−12.3 ptsvs 2000

vs 74.0% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

10.2%

−1.0 ptsvs 2000

vs 11.2% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

12.2 min

−2%vs 2000

vs 12.4 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married49.9%(2,126)

Married35.6%(1,516)

Widowed5.7%(241)

Divorced8.8%(377)

Women 15+

Never married42.8%(1,998)

Married38.3%(1,785)

Widowed6.3%(296)

Divorced12.5%(585)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

10.8%

−11.6 ptssince 2013

from 22.4% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

39.9%

−3.1 ptssince 2020

from 43.0% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

10.6%

+5.2 ptssince 2020

from 5.4% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

13.7%

−1.6 ptssince 2020

from 15.3% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

44.8%

+7.3 ptssince 2020

from 37.5% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

5.1%

+2.4 ptssince 2020

from 2.7% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

50.3%

−1.6 ptssince 2020

from 51.9% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

53.8%

+5.1 ptssince 2020

from 48.7% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024

Gulf War (2001 or later)68.6%(473)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)11.7%(81)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era16.2%(112)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War1.7%(12)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 690 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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