The Town FilesPortales, New Mexico
City in Roosevelt County · population 12,137 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,400
- Household income
- $50,555
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 27.1
Portales is a city of 12,137 people in Roosevelt County, New Mexico. The median home is worth $133,400, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). It ranks more walkable than 98% of New Mexico towns, hipper than 98% of New Mexico towns, more vibrant than 97% of New Mexico towns.
How Portales ranks
Percentile among New Mexico towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Mexico towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Portales is worth $133,400, below the typical New Mexico town ($187,400). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $50,555, which is more affordable than 72% of New Mexico towns. Median rent is $903 a month. 47.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Portales | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,400 | $187,400 |
| Median rent | $903 | $916 |
| Median household income | $50,555 | $55,614 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 3.2× |
| Homeownership | 47.6% | 80.1% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Portales
| People | Portales | Typical New Mexico town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.2% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 29.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.4% | 18.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.1% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 8.3% |
| Average commute | 12.3 min | 24.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.2% | 82.9% |
Weather in Portales
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 25.5°F. About 16.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.6 inches of snow (typical New Mexico town: 10.7 in). Expect about 85 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 104 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portales since 1950, compared with 3 for the typical New Mexico town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 7, 1972 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 14, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 79 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on June 12, 2012.
Severe weather in Roosevelt County since 1996
Roosevelt County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3460: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2011 | Fire | FM-2897: Tire Fire |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 10, 2000 | Fire | EM-3154: Severe Fire Threats |
Jobs and pay in Roosevelt County
Roosevelt County had 5,935 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,232 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Portales itself the ACS puts it at 7.4%.
Public schools in Portales
6 public schools with 2,570 students, about 85.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PORTALES HIGH | 9-12 | 798 | 114.0 |
| LINDSEY-STEINER ELEMENTARY | 5-6 | 382 | 76.4 |
| JAMES ELEMENTARY | 1-2 | 375 | 93.8 |
| VALENCIA ELEMENTARY | 3-4 | 357 | 89.3 |
| PORTALES JR HIGH | 7-8 | 347 | 115.7 |
| BROWN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | PK-K | 311 | 44.4 |
Towns near Portales
- Clovis, NM20.3 mi · 38,567 people · home $169,400
Portales questions
Is Portales, New Mexico a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Portales scores better for retirees than 26% of New Mexico towns and quieter than 2%. 12.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.1).
How much does a house cost in Portales?
The median owner-occupied home in Portales is valued at $133,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,555, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $903 a month.
What is the weather like in Portales?
July highs average 93.3°F and January lows 25.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 16.1 inches of precipitation a year and 7.6 inches of snow.
Does Portales get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Portales since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 7, 1972. The typical New Mexico town has had 3.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)