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D

Is Portales, New Mexico Safe?

Population 11,734 · Safer than 16% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Portales has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 269.8 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,589 per 100K.

Portales Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPortalesNew Mexico AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate406.8332.8363.8
Property Crime Rate2291.62123.71,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate310.0--268.2
Theft Rate1589.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate518.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

269.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

407/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2292/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Portales

Violent crime in Portales is close to the national average. The rate of 406.8 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2291.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,589 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 310 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Portales Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault310
01.2x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery57
090% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary258
096% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,589
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft518
01.6x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Portales Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Portales
406.8
State
332.8
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Portales
2291.6
State
2123.7
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portales Safety

Is Portales safe?
Not especially. Portales earns a D with a crime rate of 269.8 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Portales?
269.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 406.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2291.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Portales safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Portales's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,589 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Portales?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Portales generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Portales police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Portales?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Portales's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a D grade overall.
How does Portales compare to other cities in New Mexico?
Below average for the state. Portales ranks behind about 82% of New Mexico cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Portales to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Portales?
Bad. A D grade and 269.8 per-thousand rate put Portales below 84% of US cities. Violent crime at 407 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Portales?
406.8 per 100,000, which is 12% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (310), robbery (57), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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