Portales, NM Reviews

Slowly Dying In The Desert - 10/13/2019
In a single sentence, this is a town that is slowly dying in the desert- and nobody here cares.
Why- because the people who run this town were born in the 1940's or before, and they are all on their way out.
The first thing I noticed when I moved here was the segregation between what they call "Taco Town" and the rest of the city. South of the tracks, you see well watered homes, streets that are in (relatively) good repair, etc.
North of the tracks, you see rutted streets, wandering packs of stray and half wild dogs, trash blowing everywhere, and about one in three homes are abandoned shacks. The reason they call it "Taco Town" is because the population is overwhelmingly Hispanic; in most places, that would be considered a racist term, but not here in Portales, where that is considered perfectly acceptable.
The second thing I noticed were the streets; indeed, when it rains, the entire town becomes flooded. Why- because this town of 12,000 people has never Read More

Alexia - 8/8/2019
I love portales new.Mexico they have nice people I like boys cute boys that the high school Read More

Lived there. Never again. - 8/22/2017
If you like boring, low wages, and high unemployment for mediocre jobs, and ultra-conservatism then this is the place for you. Read More

Not what you think - 4/24/2016
I have to admit. After searching through rentals in Clovis as well as Portales, we decided that Portales was a bit more organized and prettier in comparison.

Now after living here I can say that this place is absolutely the pits. While ascetically more sound, it is of my opinion there is absolutely nothing charming, cost effective, or endearing to living here or anywhere within the area.

Here are my points as to why:

Properties: Unless you enjoy living in a run down ramshackled abode (can you call them that), trailer, stinky 1960 wall to wall carpeted( yeah the kitchen and bathroom too) home you will pay out the nose for it. In a typical town or City you are likely to find price point to match every income, but here. Fat Chance. A $800 per month rental means college kids, roommate living arangements etc are going to be what has come before. Owners of the properties don't want to fix them up, so get ready for 1960/70's shag carpet in avocado Read More

Update on Living in Portales - 8/3/2014
My husband and I called Portales home since 1981 when we moved to the area with the Air Force. Cannon AFB is 11 miles N of the city. We chose Portales over Clovis to build our home because of the quaintness of the small city, the university (ENMU), and the eclectic mix of people (college kids with spiked hair to traditional farmers & ranchers and everything in between). The city's rich Latino heritage adds so much to the community, and the spicy aroma of roasting green chilis fills the air in the late summer. The cost of living has always been reasonable with low taxes. However, you have to drive about 100 miles to enjoy the amenities of a larger city including an airport...Lubbock or Amarillo, TX provide that service. Clovis is about 20 miles NE with limited flights and services, but more shopping and restaurants and crime to go with it. Portales is a great place to live for those who enjoy quiet, country living. Read More

Portales is a Sleeper - 10/12/2008
We chose Portales over Clovis, and after a few months of small town culture shock (Portales is around 15,000 people), we find ourselves liking the peace and quite and general lack of chaos. Of course, we don't have all the shopping we need and usually make a monthly trip to Lubbock (an hour and a half)for the big box stores, but the kids are happy our finances are better off with the short commute and low house prices, and the Portales people are very friendly and down to earth. There is a nice university in town, and we take full advantage of concerts, plays, and kid's programs. The town isn't fancy, but pretty clean and educated, and not full of crime or rednecks. The desert sunsets are spectacular over the city recreation fields and Oasis Park, north of town. We could use more choices for shopping, but the locals are pretty Read More

What Crime? - 11/21/2007
I've been here a year and I don't see the crime. The gangbangers just are not here like back in Cali, or in Clovis. There are a few cruisers with boom boxes but most look like bored mexican nationals. I think the paper lists reports like "suspicious car reported in neighborhood" as the big stuff in Read More

What Crime? - 11/21/2007
I've been here a year and I don't see the crime. The gangbangers just are not here like back in cali, or in Read More

A Nice Place to Live - 11/18/2007
Portales is a real family town with a large university and reasonable home prices. The city is a compact 5 square mile oasis of neighborhoods and commerce in the heart of the southern High Plains. At 4,000 feet, both winter and summer are mild, although the sun shines 300 days a year.

While the "big shopping" is in Lubbock, 90 minutes away, Portales has two of everything. For more expensive fast food and mall offerings, the dumpy city of Clovis is just 20 minutes north.

One key fact: Portales has 39 houses of worship and two bars, quite amazing considering there are 4,000 Eastern New Mexico University students in a town of 12,000 people.

The historic town square and compact shady neighborhoods host kids playing on front lawns. The downtown area will be undergoing major renovation, and so modest early 1900s bungalows a few blocks from the square can be had for under $100,000. Most of the newer neighborhoods are in the south part of the city, Read More

Low key, good quality of life - 11/18/2007
Portales, New Mexico was rated "9th best small town for quality of life" by bizjournals in 2007. Portales has 4,000 college students and a historic downtown. It is surrounded by picturesque High Plains dairies and farms. The beautiful Eastern new Mexico University hosts two PBS stations and any number of continued education classes, from yoga to accounting. Winters are mild with just a little snow and summers cool down well at night. Despite a bit of shabbiness here or there, neighborhoods are generally tree-lined and clean, with home prices among the lowest in the region for a quality small Read More