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Portales, NM

Photo: Wikipedia

Portales, NM

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Demographics

DiverseSimpson's Diversity Index: 58
Population12,023
Foreign Born4.0%
Population Density1,498people per mi²
Median Age27.7 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

64/100

36% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Portales, New Mexico

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $14k$26k
Comfortable $26k$38k
Luxury $83k+$128k+
Elite (Top 5%) $97k+$151k+
Affordability Ratio

135%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A-
Hood Index scan area
Premium Lean77%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
15
Positive
18
Poor
3
Negative
6

Groceries

1 within 10 miles

2.7mi

Gas

3 within 10 miles

0.8mi

Hospital

2 within 20 miles

0.5mi

Airport

LAS — Las Vegas Municipal

143.8mi

Post Office

USPS — Portales, NM

0.5mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf0Nearest 15.7 mi
Camping2Nearest 5.7 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0 

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D-
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$51k+4.0%
32% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$219k
67% below US avg
College Educated
26.4%
25% below US avg
WFH
2.2%
85% below US avg
Homeownership
53.0%
19% below US avg
Median Home
$133k
53% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B+
Safe

Generally safer than 69% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
13.2
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−14.9%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−17.7%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.26 / 1k Residents49% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
2.56 / 1k Residents48% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr−12.0%
Burglary
4.01 / 1k Residents5% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
3.84 / 1k Residents74% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.37 / 1k Residents56% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+3Tilts Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Portales, New Mexico
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C
Weak10.2% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Net exporter (250% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season205 days297 frost-free
Annual Rainfall10.3"
Elevation4,012 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
B
Defensible

Workable tactical position. Some exposure to population density or targets, but generally defensible in a crisis.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great1664 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,498/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair1 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Wildfire, Drought, Hail, Tornado
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 244 mi · coast 387 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$45.0M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T11:15:04.000Z

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