Is Portales or San Antonio Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Portales is safer than San Antonio (Safety Score 11/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,653 per 100,000 versus 5,219 for San Antonio — 30% lower. Portales has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Portales has a 61% lower rate.
Note: San Antonio is 128.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Portales — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
San Antonio — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Portales, NM
San Antonio, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Portales | San Antonio | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,652.7 | 5,219.0 | -1,566.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 781.5 | 595.3 | +186.2 |
| Murder Rate | 8.5 | 8.4 | +0.1 |
| Rape Rate | 51.0 | 83.7 | -32.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 42.5 | 108.4 | -65.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 679.6 | 393.7 | +285.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,871.2 | 4,623.6 | -1,752.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 1,495.1 | 495.6 | +999.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,070.3 | 3,291.8 | -2,221.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 305.8 | 836.3 | -530.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portales or San Antonio safer?
Portales is safer with a total crime rate of 3,653 per 100K vs 5,219 for San Antonio — a 30% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Portales has a violent crime rate of 781.5 per 100K while San Antonio has 595.3. San Antonio has lower violent crime.
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.
About San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, a South Texas city famed for the Alamo, sits along the Balcones Escarpment. Its population is predominantly Hispanic, reflecting a rich blend of cultures. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 1,514,458, San Antonio has a total crime rate of 5,219.0 per 100,000 residents.