Is Austin or Portales Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Portales is safer than Austin (Safety Score 11/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 3,653 per 100,000 versus 3,709 for Austin — 2% lower. Austin has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Portales has a 50% lower rate.
Note: Austin is 83.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Austin — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Portales — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Austin, TX
Portales, NM
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Austin | Portales | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,709.4 | 3,652.7 | +56.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 467.5 | 781.5 | -314.0 |
| Murder Rate | 6.6 | 8.5 | -1.9 |
| Rape Rate | 67.6 | 51.0 | +16.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 85.4 | 42.5 | +42.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 307.2 | 679.6 | -372.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,241.9 | 2,871.2 | +370.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 445.2 | 1,495.1 | -1,049.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,198.1 | 1,070.3 | +1,127.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 598.6 | 305.8 | +292.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Austin or Portales safer?
Portales is safer with a total crime rate of 3,653 per 100K vs 3,709 for Austin — a 2% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Austin has a violent crime rate of 467.5 per 100K while Portales has 781.5. Austin has lower violent crime.
About Austin, TX
Austin, the "Live Music Capital of the World," is a rapidly growing city in Central Texas. Situated on the Colorado River, it's the state capital and home to a diverse population, including many young professionals drawn to its tech industry. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 984,613, Austin has a total crime rate of 3,709.4 per 100,000 residents.
About Portales, NM
Portales, New Mexico, a Roosevelt County seat, is known for its peanut industry and as home to Eastern New Mexico University. This small city, with a population around 12,000, sits on the High Plains near the Texas border. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 11,772, Portales has a total crime rate of 3,652.7 per 100,000 residents.