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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Portales

New Mexico · 10,690 residents · 8.026 sq mi
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Part of the Clovis micropolitan area
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The short version

Portales has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $16,162. Population has declined 4% since 2000. Median home value is $39,800. At a median age of 27.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 35.0% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 33% less than the New Mexico median.

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
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K11K12K12K13K1990201020202024Portales
202412K
1990201020202024
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
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%
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)
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)
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
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Compare Portales to nearby cities

PORTALES VS
Clovis
Income$54,820+239%
Home value$169,400+326%
Population37,127+216%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTALES VS
Levelland
Income$58,000+259%
Home value$140,400+253%
Population12,513+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTALES VS
Hereford
Income$56,868+252%
Home value$109,700+176%
Population14,976+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PORTALES VS
Lovington
Income$68,821+326%
Home value$166,100+317%
Population11,620−1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Portales, New Mexico?

Portales, New Mexico has about 10,690 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Portales, New Mexico earns about $16,162 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 $39,800, and the typical rent is about $268 a month.

How educated are people in Portales, New Mexico?

About 21.1% 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 35.0% of people in Portales, New Mexico live below the federal poverty line.

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

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