The Town Files

Roosevelt County, New Mexico

18,928 people. The median home is worth $135,800 (typical New Mexico town: $187,400) and the median household earns $52,685.

Towns in Roosevelt County

Towns in Roosevelt County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Portales12,137$133,400$50,55527.1

People and housing

Roosevelt CountyTypical New Mexico town
Median home value$135,800$187,400
Median rent$898$916
Median household income$52,685$55,614
Median age32.339.9
Bachelor's degree or higher21.2%18.7%
Below the poverty line21.8%18.0%

Jobs and pay

5,935 jobs in 2024, average pay $45,232 a year.

Largest industries in Roosevelt CountyRetail663 jobs · $33,961Hotels & restaurants658 jobs · $18,904Manufacturing429 jobs · $49,809Transportation & warehousing251 jobs · $57,461Construction181 jobs · $35,452Finance & insurance115 jobs · $52,890
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Roosevelt County0%2%4%6%2000200420082012201620202023 3.6%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 511 storm events in Roosevelt County from 1996 to 2026.

Storm events in Roosevelt County by type since 1996Hail241Flood3Drought47Tornado26High Wind23Dust Storm2Heavy Rain9Heavy Snow7Flash Flood38Funnel Cloud11
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Roosevelt County has been included in 7 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 5, 2020BiologicalDR-4529: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3460: Covid-19
April 17, 2011FireFM-2897: Tire Fire
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3229: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
May 10, 2000FireEM-3154: Severe Fire Threats
January 29, 1998Severe StormDR-1202: Severe Winter Storm
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).