Portales, NM Demographics

A map of Portales's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Hispanic	5,962	5,663	49.8%	46.7%
White	4,958	5,340	41.4%	44.0%
Multiracial	745	385	6.2%	3.2%
Native American/Other	115	214	1.0%	1.8%
Black	108	381	0.9%	3.1%
Asian	80	154	0.7%	1.3%

Portales, New Mexico has an estimated population of 11,968, a slight decrease from the 12,137 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 49.8% Hispanic, 41.4% White, 6.2% Multiracial, 1.0% Native American/Other, 0.9% Black, and 0.7% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Portales, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Portales has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than New Mexico overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Portales, that probability was 58.6% in 2020 and 57.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Portales is ranked the 20th most populous place in New Mexico, out of 528 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Portales was ranked the 20th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Portales's White Population

4,958 residents of Portales, or 41.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Portales is higher than in New Mexico overall, where 36% of the population is White. Portales ranks 197th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Portales's White population has declined by an estimated 7.2%. White residents' share of Portales's population has decreased from 44.0% to 41.4%.

Portales is more White than neighboring Clovis (39.9% White). Portales is less White than neighboring Floyd (82.8% White), Cannon AFB (52.6% White), Dora (90.9% White), and Melrose (59.3% White).

Portales's Black Population

108 residents of Portales, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Portales is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.8% of the population is Black. Portales ranks 20th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Portales's Black population has declined by an estimated 71.7%. Black residents' share of Portales's population has decreased from 3.1% to 0.9%.

Portales is more Black than neighboring Floyd (0% Black), Dora (0% Black), and Melrose (0% Black). Portales is less Black than neighboring Cannon AFB (7% Black), and Clovis (5.3% Black).

Portales's Asian Population

80 residents of Portales, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Portales is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Portales ranks 62nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Portales's Asian population has declined by an estimated 48.1%. Asian residents' share of Portales's population has decreased from 1.3% to 0.7%.

Portales is more Asian than neighboring Floyd (0% Asian), Dora (0% Asian), and Melrose (0% Asian). Portales is less Asian than neighboring Cannon AFB (4.6% Asian), and Clovis (1.2% Asian).

Portales's Hispanic Population

5,962 residents of Portales, or 49.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Portales is comparable to the share in New Mexico overall, where 48.4% of the population is Hispanic. Portales ranks 248th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Portales's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 5.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Portales's population has increased from 46.7% to 49.8%.

Portales is more Hispanic than neighboring Floyd (14.2% Hispanic), Cannon AFB (27.7% Hispanic), Dora (0% Hispanic), Clovis (48.9% Hispanic), and Melrose (31.5% Hispanic).

Portales's Native American/Other Population

115 residents of Portales, or 1.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Portales is lower than in New Mexico overall, where 9% of the population is Native American/Other. Portales ranks 289th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Portales's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 46.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Portales's population has decreased from 1.8% to 1.0%.

Portales is more Native American/Other than neighboring Floyd (0% Native American/Other), Cannon AFB (0.7% Native American/Other), Clovis (0.7% Native American/Other), and Melrose (0.7% Native American/Other). Portales is less Native American/Other than neighboring Dora (4.5% Native American/Other).

Portales's Multiracial Population

745 residents of Portales, or 6.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Portales is slightly higher than in New Mexico overall, where 3.1% of the population is Multiracial. Portales ranks 166th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 528 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Portales's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 93.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Portales's population has increased from 3.2% to 6.2%.

Portales is more Multiracial than neighboring Floyd (3% Multiracial), Dora (4.5% Multiracial), and Clovis (4.1% Multiracial). Portales is less Multiracial than neighboring Cannon AFB (7.5% Multiracial), and Melrose (8.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.