United States › New Mexico › Portales CITY · 2020 ACS
Portales New Mexico · 12,137 residents · 8.03 sq mi
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The short version
Portales is a city of 12,137 people in New Mexico. The median age is 28.6, younger than the US median of 38.8. 67% were living in the same home a year earlier. 25.7% of locals live below the federal poverty line. Owners hold 49% of the housing stock. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $117,100.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 28.6
US median: 38.8
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 49%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 27.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
11K 11K 12K 12K 13K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Portales Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $41,507
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,658 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $12,935 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 24.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 6.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 5.3%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.1%
Transportation & warehousing 0.7%
Education & health services 0.5%
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$117,100
+49%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$738
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $394 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 54.7% in 2000
50.5% rent
from 2.61 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 3.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 56.6%(6,303)
Hispanic / Latino 38.1%(4,244)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 44%(5,340)
Hispanic / Latino 46.7%(5,663)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 12 more ancestry groups with data from 25.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 74.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 11.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 63.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 33.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 22.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 49.9%(2,126)
Women 15+
Never married 42.8%(1,998)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 22.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 49.5%(321)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.7%(147)
Share of the 648 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Portales Head to head
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PORTALES VS
Levelland
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PORTALES VS
Hereford
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Lovington
Income $68,821 +66%
Home value $166,100 +42%
Population 11,620 −1%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Portales, New Mexico? Portales, New Mexico has about 12,137 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Portales, New Mexico? The typical household in Portales, New Mexico earns about $41,507 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 $117,100, and the typical rent is about $738 a month.
How educated are people in Portales, New Mexico? About 26.0% 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 25.7% 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 1,447 residents, a change of about 14 percent over that period.
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