What are the schools like in Portales, NM?

Portales is served primarily by PORTALES. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.6:1.

What is the median household income in Portales?

The median household income in Portales, NM is $49,313 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.5%.

What is the weather like in Portales, NM?

Portales has an average high temperature of 55.0°F in January and 93.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 16.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 7.6 inches.

Portales, NM Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Portales, NM affordable or expensive?

Portales's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Portales is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $124,000 and the median rent is $778 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Portales, NM?

Portales has a violent crime rate of 781.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2871.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Portales, NM a Good Place to Live?

Portales is a small city of 12,085 in New Mexico, with a median household income of $49,313 and a 9.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Portales stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Portales is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Portales city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.3

Portales's overall cost of living index is 90.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Portales costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Portales, NM	National Avg
Median Home Value	$124,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$778	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	50.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$49,313	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Portales's violent crime rate is 781.5 per 100,000 residents — 106% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

781.5 /100k

Property Crime

2871.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Portales is served primarily by PORTALES. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Portales, NM	National Avg
School District	PORTALES	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	24.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Portales sees average highs of 55.0°F in January and 93.3°F in July, with 16.1 inches of annual precipitation and 7.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Portales, NM
Average High — January	55.0°F
Average High — July	93.3°F
Annual Precipitation	16.1"
Annual Snowfall	7.6"

Demographics

Metric	Portales, NM	National Avg
Population	12,085	—
Median Age	27.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	69.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	22.8%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	25.3%	22.2%
65 and over	12.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Floyd, NM 13 mi Cannon AFB, NM 14 mi Dora, NM 17 mi Clovis, NM 20 mi Texico, NM 23 mi

ZIP Codes in Portales

Portales, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code:

88130

Portales vs Other Cities

Portales, NM vs Floyd, NM Portales, NM vs Cannon AFB, NM Portales, NM vs Dora, NM Portales, NM vs Clovis, NM Portales, NM vs Texico, NM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portales, NM affordable or expensive?

Portales's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Portales roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $124,000 and median rent is $778/month.

What is the crime rate in Portales, NM?

Portales's violent crime rate is 781.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2871.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Portales?

Public schools in Portales are operated by PORTALES. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.6:1. 24.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Portales, NM a good place to live?

Portales, NM has a population of 12,085, a median household income of $49,313, and an unemployment rate of 9.5%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Portales?

Portales averages 55.0°F in January and 93.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 16.1 inches with about 7.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Portales?

Portales, NM is covered by 1 ZIP code: 88130.

What is the population of Portales?

The population of Portales, New Mexico is 12,085 with a median age of 27.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Portales?

Key numbers for living in Portales: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $124,000, median household income $49,313, crime index 178 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Portales side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.