City · 11,968 residents · Roosevelt County, New Mexico
Portales, New Mexico
In Portales, a typical home is worth $133,400 and typical rent is $903 a month. Compared with all of Roosevelt County, the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $129,257 to $134,876.
Typical rent
$1,008a month
▲ 6.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2023 to September 2026: from $862 to $1,008.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Portales is in Roosevelt County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Roosevelt County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Portales has the lowest homeownership rate of the 46 cities in New Mexico with more than 5,000 people: 48%.
2
Nearby, in Tucumcari, the typical home value is $64,100: 52% less than in Portales ($133,400).
3
Nearby, in Tucumcari, the typical rent is $704: 22% less than in Portales ($903).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Portales
What homes there are in Portales, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Portales
Roosevelt County
New Mexico
United States
Kind of home: Portales and its comparisons
Measure
Portales
Roosevelt County
New Mexico
United States
Detached house
68%
68%
65%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
12%
8%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
10%
19%
Mobile home
11%
18%
16%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
As in Roosevelt County, most homes in Portales are detached houses (68%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Portales
Roosevelt County
New Mexico
United States
Year built: Portales and its comparisons
Measure
Portales
Roosevelt County
New Mexico
United States
Before 1960
24%
24%
17%
26%
1960–1979
33%
32%
26%
24%
1980–1999
22%
26%
32%
25%
2000–2009
13%
11%
16%
14%
2010 or later
8%
7%
10%
11%
The typical year built in Portales is 1976, about the same as in Roosevelt County (1977).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K35%
$100K–$200K39%
$200K–$300K19%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Portales and its comparisons
Measure
Portales
Under $100K
35%
$100K–$200K
39%
$200K–$300K
19%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99954%
$1,000–$1,49928%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Portales and its comparisons
Measure
Portales
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
54%
$1,000–$1,499
28%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,398 a month
Roosevelt County: $1,371 a month
Without a mortgage
$326 a month
Roosevelt County: $390 a month
Owners with a mortgage
51%
Roosevelt County: 49%
In Portales, 51% of owners have a mortgage; their typical cost is $1,398 a month, about the same as in Roosevelt County.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
PortalesNo clear change
Roosevelt County+15%
New Mexico+45%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Portales+16%
Roosevelt County+15%
New Mexico+26%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Portales+33%
Roosevelt County+23%
New Mexico+29%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Portales and its comparisons
Measure
Portales
Roosevelt County
New Mexico
United States
Typical home value
No clear change
+15%
+45%
+53%
Typical rent
+16%
+15%
+26%
+33%
Typical household income
+33%
+23%
+29%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Portales did not change clearly: the difference is within the Census margin of error.
Rents in Portales rose at about the same pace as in Roosevelt County: 16% since 2015–2019, against 15%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Portales and its comparisons
Measure
Portales
Roosevelt County
New Mexico
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
5.9%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1.0%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
3.3%
3.4%
People per household
2.42
2.40
2.48
2.53
Drive alone
82%
81%
74%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
11%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
Walk or bike
5%
4%
2%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
5%
12%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
By size, households in Portales look like those in Roosevelt County: 2.42 people on average.
To get to work, 82% of workers in Portales drive alone; in Roosevelt County, 81%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Portales?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Portales, worth $133,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 25% of the typical household income in Portales, which is $50,555 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Roosevelt County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Portales. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $4,669 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,063
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$130,984
Total interest
$188,455
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,253 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,180 a month
Your payment · 25%
Tight
$1,180 to $1,517 a month
Hard
more than $1,517 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Portales ($50,555 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$887
Property tax
$61
Home insurance
$56
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$59
You need at least $4,669 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,063; principal and interest $887.
The city and its county
Portales and Roosevelt County
Portales is in Roosevelt County, New Mexico. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Portales
Map of Roosevelt County, New Mexico, with Portales marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Portales
Roosevelt County
Other cities with a page
Portales's own numbers
Typical home value
$133,400
Typical monthly rent
$903
Typical yearly household income
$50,555
Households that own their home
48%
Effective property tax rate
0.55%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Roosevelt County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,014
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+34%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
20%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Roosevelt County.
A typical home in Portales is worth $133,400: about the same as the county and 46% below New Mexico. With the typical household income in Portales ($50,555 a year), a typical home costs 2.6 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Portales2.6 years
Roosevelt2.6 years
New Mexico3.9 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Roosevelt County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Roosevelt County rose 38% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Roosevelt County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Roosevelt County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +4.5% +4.5% 2016
2017: −4.4% −4.4% 2017
2018: −5.4% −5.4% 2018
2019: +3.2% +3.2% 2019
2020: +5.1% +5.1% 2020
2021: +5.6% +5.6% 2021
2022: +10.0% +10.0% 2022
2023: +0.8% +0.8% 2023
2024: +8.5% +8.5% 2024
2025: +5.8% +5.8% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Roosevelt County, New Mexico and the United States
Period
County
New Mexico
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+5.8%
+3.1%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+34%
+50%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+38%
+82%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Portales next to Roosevelt County, New Mexico and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Portales$133,400
Roosevelt$135,800
New Mexico$248,100
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Portales$903
Roosevelt$898
New Mexico$1,067
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Portales$50,555
Roosevelt$52,685
New Mexico$64,059
United States$80,734
See the full table
Portales next to Roosevelt County and New Mexico
Measure
Portales
Roosevelt County
New Mexico
U.S.
Typical home value
$133,400
$135,800
$248,100
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$903
$898
$1,067
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$50,555 ▼4% below the county
$52,685
$64,059
$80,734
Households that own their home
48% ▼13 points below the county
61%
70%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$728 ▲18% above the county
$616
$1,731
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.55% ▲0.1 points above the county
0.45%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
45% ▼1 points below the county
46%
50%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Roosevelt County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Portales
For a typical $133,400 home in Portales, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Portales's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,063a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$4,669
Cash to close
$8,671
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $59
Conventional, 5% down$1,039a month
Down payment
$6,670
Cash to close
$10,672
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $63
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$840a month
Down payment
$26,680
Cash to close
$30,682
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$963a month
Down payment
$20,010
Cash to close
$24,012
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Portales
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,063
$4,669
$130,984
7.18%
FHA MIP · $59
$8,671
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,039
$6,670
$126,730
7.18%
PMI · $63
$10,672
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$840
$26,680
$106,720
7.18%
None
$30,682
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$963
$20,010
$113,390
8.18%
None
$24,012
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Portales and for Roosevelt County.
Property tax
Effective rate in Portales
0.55%of the home’s value each year
$728 a year for the typical owner in Portales.
Portales0.55%
Roosevelt0.45%
New Mexico0.7%
What New Mexico publishes3 percent cap on the yearly increase in your home's taxable value (New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee ("Property Taxes in New Mexico" brief))
Typical rent in Portales is $903 a month: about the same as the county. In Portales, 45% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Roosevelt County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,014 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.50 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Roosevelt County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$807
$15.52
$32,280
1 bedroom
$818
$15.73
$32,720
2 bedrooms
$1,014
$19.50
$40,560
3 bedrooms
$1,404
$27.00
$56,160
4 bedrooms
$1,695
$32.60
$67,800
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Portales
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Portales is in ZIP code 88130.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,020: $6 more than the fair market rent for Roosevelt County ($1,014).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Portales, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
88130
$810
$820
$1,020
$1,410
$1,700
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
88130 $1,020$1,410
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Portales when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Roosevelt County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Portales or Roosevelt County. The ones below are statewide in New Mexico: they work in Portales the same as in the rest of the state.
New Mexico state agency fixed-rate second mortgage for the down payment and closing costs of first-time buyers, together with the FirstHome mortgage.Offered by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).
New Mexico state agency fixed $7,000 second mortgage for the down payment and closing costs of low-income first-time buyers; no monthly payments and forgivable after 10 years.Offered by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).
New Mexico state agency fixed $10,000 third loan at 0%, for the down payment only, added to FirstDown or HomeNow; repaid in monthly installments over 15 years.Offered by Housing New Mexico (New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, MFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Portales or Roosevelt County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Portales and all of Roosevelt County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Portales?
The typical home value in Portales is $133,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Roosevelt County it is $135,800.
How much does it cost to rent in Portales?
Typical rent in Portales is $903 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Roosevelt County is $1,014.
What is the FHA loan limit in Portales?
Portales uses the FHA limit for all of Roosevelt County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Portales?
The typical homeowner in Portales pays $728 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.55% of the home’s value; in Roosevelt County, the rate is 0.45%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Portales?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Roosevelt County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
