Cost of Living in Portales, NM
Population 12,023 · New Mexico · Data vintage 2023
(100 = US avg)
Portales is a smaller New Mexico community of around 12000 residents, where median household incomes of $51,290 and housing costs ($133,000 for a typical home) give the local cost-of-living profile a distinctly small-town shape. A poverty rate near 21% adds context to the income figures — well above the US average, and worth factoring into any comparison with cities on the coasts or in the Rockies.
Portales lies roughly 95 miles northwest of the nearest major metro, Lubbock — close enough that regional housing and labor patterns are shaped largely by the larger market. Median home values run roughly 33% lower than Lubbock's $198,000.
Cost Overview
Scale: 100 = US national average. Green < 90, Red > 110.
About the Cost of Living in Portales
The median home value in Portales is $132,900 — 56% below the national median of $305,000. Median rent runs $870/month, 34% lower than the national median of $1,314/month. The median household income of $51,290/year is 31% lower than the US median of $74,580. The local unemployment rate is 7.8%, above the national average of 4.8%. New Mexico's top state income tax rate is 5.9% and the combined sales tax is 7.7%. The climate averages highs of 74.0°F and lows of 41.6°F. Overall, Portales has a cost of living index of 53 versus the US average of 100, meaning it is 47% less expensive.
🏠 Housing
HUD Fair Market Rents by Bedroom
💰 Estimated Monthly Budget
Estimates based on median data and national averages. Actual costs vary.
🛒 Food & Groceries
National BLS average prices (2023). Local prices may vary.
🚗 Transportation
Commute Mode
⚡ Utilities
📋 Taxes
💼 Income & Employment
🎓 Education
👥 Demographics
🌤 Climate
NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 55 | 59 | 67 | 74 | 83 | 92 | 92 | 91 | 83 | 74 | 63 | 54 |
| Low °F | 22 | 26 | 32 | 39 | 50 | 59 | 63 | 61 | 54 | 42 | 30 | 23 |
| Precip" | 0.57 | 0.42 | 0.84 | 0.75 | 2.24 | 2.86 | 2.33 | 2.62 | 2.43 | 1.52 | 0.67 | 0.69 |
🏫 Schools
NCES CCD 2019 — public school district data
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Portales, NM?
Portales has a cost index of 53 (100 = national average). It is 47% below the national average.
What is average rent in Portales, NM?
The median gross rent in Portales is $870 per month based on 2023 Census data.
What is the average home price in Portales?
The median home value in Portales is $132,900 according to Zillow and Census data.
What is the median income in Portales?
The median household income in Portales is $51,290 per year (2023 ACS 5-year estimates).
What is the sales tax in Portales, NM?
The combined state and local sales tax rate in Portales is 7.7%. The New Mexico state income tax top rate is 5.9%.
Is Portales, NM affordable?
Yes, Portales is generally considered affordable, with a cost of living index of 53 — about 47% below the US national average of 100.
What is the weather like in Portales?
Portales has average high temperatures of 74.0°F and average lows of 41.6°F. Annual precipitation is 17.9". Data from NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.
Portales at a Glance
- Population
- 12,023
- Median Income
- $51,290
- Home Value
- $132,900
- Median Rent
- $870/mo
- Unemployment
- 7.8%
- Avg High Temp
- 74.0°F
- Sales Tax
- 7.7%
Nearby Cities
Explore county-level cost of living data
New Mexico Rankings
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