Roosevelt County

Roosevelt County is located in eastern New Mexico along the Texas border, forming part of the High Plains region. Established in 1903 and named for President Theodore Roosevelt, the county developed around dryland farming, ranching, and later irrigated agriculture supported by the Ogallala Aquifer. It is a small county by population, with roughly 19,000 residents, and remains predominantly rural outside its principal communities. The county seat is Portales, the largest city and a regional center for education and services, home to Eastern New Mexico University. Roosevelt County’s landscape is characterized by broad, relatively flat plains with cultivated fields and rangeland, shaped by a semi-arid climate and periodic drought. The local economy is anchored by agriculture—particularly dairy production, feed crops, and cattle—along with public-sector employment and small-scale manufacturing and retail. Cultural and civic life centers on Portales and nearby smaller towns such as Floyd and Dora.

Roosevelt County is located in eastern New Mexico on the High Plains, along the Texas border, with Portales as the county seat. The county includes a mix of urban (Portales) and surrounding rural areas that shape its demographic and housing patterns.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Roosevelt County, New Mexico, the county had a population of 19,191 (2020 Census).

Age & Gender

County-level age distribution and sex are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau through QuickFacts and detailed tables. According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Roosevelt County (latest available profile values shown on the QuickFacts page):

• Age (selected indicators)

  • Persons under 18 years: reported in QuickFacts
  • Persons 65 years and over: reported in QuickFacts
    (QuickFacts provides these county shares directly; values vary by release year and are presented on the linked page.)

• Gender ratio / sex

  • Female persons (%): reported in QuickFacts
    (A male/female ratio can be derived from the female percentage; QuickFacts presents the female share directly on the linked page.)

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Roosevelt County, the county’s racial and ethnic composition is provided as shares of the total population, including:

• White alone
• Black or African American alone
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone
• Asian alone
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone
• Two or more races
• Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

(QuickFacts lists these categories and their county percentages; the current values are maintained on the linked profile page.)

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing indicators for Roosevelt County are reported by the U.S. Census Bureau and summarized in QuickFacts. According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Roosevelt County, the profile includes county-level values for:

• Households (count)
• Persons per household
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate
• Median value of owner-occupied housing units
• Median selected monthly owner costs (with and without a mortgage)
• Median gross rent
• Housing units (count)
• Building permits (where available in the QuickFacts table)

For local government and planning resources, visit the Roosevelt County official website.

Roosevelt County in eastern New Mexico is anchored by Portales and surrounded by sparsely populated rural areas; lower population density and longer last‑mile distances tend to constrain wired infrastructure and make residents more reliant on mobile or fixed wireless connections for digital communication.

Direct, county-level email usage statistics are not typically published; broadband subscription, device access, and demographics from the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) are commonly used proxies because email adoption generally tracks internet access and regular device availability.

Digital access indicators in QuickFacts: Roosevelt County, New Mexico include household broadband subscription and computer ownership measures, which together indicate the share of households positioned for routine email access. Age distribution in the same source summarizes the proportions of children, working-age adults, and seniors; older age shares are generally associated with lower uptake of online services, including email, while college-age and working-age groups are more likely to use it. QuickFacts also reports the county’s gender split; gender is typically a weaker predictor than age and connectivity.

Connectivity limitations are reflected in rural service gaps documented by the FCC National Broadband Map, where coverage varies by provider and technology across the county.

Roosevelt County is located in eastern New Mexico on the High Plains, with the county seat in Portales and proximity to Cannon Air Force Base in adjacent Curry County. The county is predominantly rural outside Portales, with flat to gently rolling terrain and relatively low population density compared with New Mexico’s urban corridor (Albuquerque–Santa Fe). These characteristics generally increase per‑mile network buildout costs and can produce coverage gaps away from population centers and along less-traveled roads. Baseline county geography and population totals are available from the U.S. Census Bureau’s county profiles on Census.gov and the county government site (Roosevelt County; note that this is California and not New Mexico) is not applicable for NM; county information is commonly accessed via New Mexico’s state and local listings and the city of Portales.

Data scope and limitations (county-level)

County-specific, device-type and adoption metrics for “mobile penetration” are not consistently published at the county level in the United States. The most defensible county-level indicators typically come from:

• Household subscription measures (including “cellular data plan” as an internet subscription type) from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) via Census.gov.
• Network availability and coverage filings from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which describe where service is reported available, not whether households subscribe, via the FCC National Broadband Map.
• Statewide mapping and planning materials that may provide county views, via the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion.

Where Roosevelt County–specific figures are not available in a cited public source, the overview below distinguishes availability from adoption and notes the limitation.

Network availability (coverage) vs. household adoption (subscriptions)

Network availability describes whether a provider reports a given technology/speed as serviceable at a location (coverage footprints, modeled signal, or provider-reported service areas).
Household adoption describes whether residents actually subscribe to and use mobile service or mobile broadband (cellular data plans) and whether they rely on mobile-only connections.

These measures frequently diverge in rural counties because service may be technically available while affordability, device access, plan limits, or indoor coverage constraints reduce adoption.

Mobile penetration or access indicators (where available)

Household internet subscription indicators that include cellular data plans (ACS)

The ACS publishes county-level household internet subscription categories, typically including:

• Cellular data plan
• Broadband such as cable, fiber, or DSL
• Satellite, dial-up, and other categories
• No internet subscription

Roosevelt County values can be pulled directly by selecting the county geography in Census.gov and using ACS “Internet Subscription” tables (commonly under ACS subject tables for computer and internet use). These are the most widely used public indicators of “access via mobile broadband” at county scale, but they are household-based (not individual mobile phone ownership) and do not measure signal quality.

Provider-reported mobile broadband availability (FCC Broadband Map)

The FCC Broadband Map provides location-based availability for mobile broadband and allows filtering by provider and technology. County-level summaries can be derived by viewing Roosevelt County and inspecting the reported coverage layers on the FCC National Broadband Map. This reflects reported availability and is not a subscription or usage measure.

Limitation: Public county-level “mobile phone ownership” or “smartphone penetration” is generally not published in official datasets; commercial surveys exist but are not consistently reproducible at county scale.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G and 5G)

4G LTE availability

In most rural New Mexico counties, 4G LTE is the baseline mobile broadband technology. For Roosevelt County, the most defensible way to describe LTE availability is by referencing provider-reported coverage in the FCC National Broadband Map and viewing coverage around Portales and along major routes and populated areas. Rural areas often show greater variability in:

• Indoor coverage (building penetration)
• Network congestion at peak times
• Speed consistency outside town centers

Limitation: The FCC map provides availability, not measured throughput or real-world median speeds at the county level.

5G availability (and its likely geography within the county)

5G availability is typically concentrated where population density supports upgrades (town centers, main corridors, and near existing tower infrastructure). Provider-reported 5G coverage for Roosevelt County can be inspected directly using the FCC National Broadband Map layers for 5G.

At the county level, the FCC map is the primary public reference for distinguishing where 5G is reported available versus where only LTE is reported. It is common for rural counties to have:

• Broader “5G” footprints in low-band deployments (wider coverage, smaller speed gains over LTE)
• More limited mid-band/high-capacity 5G footprints (higher speeds, smaller coverage)

Limitation: Public sources generally do not publish a county breakdown separating low-band vs mid-band 5G in a standardized way; provider engineering disclosures and third-party speed tests may exist but are not official county datasets.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

County-specific distributions of device types (smartphones vs. feature phones, hotspots, tablets) are not typically published in official public datasets.

What can be documented at county level is:

• Household computing access and internet subscription types through ACS tables on Census.gov, which report whether households have a computer and what type of internet subscription they use (including cellular data plans).
• Reliance on mobile-only connectivity indirectly, by comparing the share of households with a cellular data plan subscription to the share with fixed broadband subscriptions in the same ACS table. This indicates the prevalence of households that include mobile broadband in their internet portfolio, but it does not uniquely identify smartphone ownership.

Limitation: Smartphone-vs-feature-phone breakdowns are usually available only through commercial market research at sub-state geographies.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Roosevelt County

Rural settlement pattern and distance from infrastructure

Roosevelt County’s population is concentrated in Portales and smaller communities, with large areas of agricultural land in between. This pattern tends to:

• Support stronger availability and capacity in and near Portales
• Reduce the economic density for tower densification in outlying areas
• Increase the importance of line-of-sight and tower spacing for coverage over open terrain

These effects are consistent with rural broadband planning discussions documented in statewide materials from the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion and with FCC mapping practices via the FCC National Broadband Map.

Population characteristics reflected in ACS internet-subscription measures

The ACS enables analysis of:

• Household internet subscription types (including cellular data plans)
• Age, income, disability status, and other factors at county scale that correlate with subscription and device access

Roosevelt County-specific figures can be extracted from Census.gov using ACS tables for internet subscriptions and related demographic profiles. These data support descriptive statements such as whether cellular data plans are common relative to fixed broadband in the county, but they do not identify the underlying device mix.

Institutional anchors and transient populations

Eastern New Mexico University in Portales and nearby regional employment centers can affect local demand for mobile data and coverage quality around campus and urbanized zones. Public institution locations and local context are typically documented through municipal and institutional sites; however, county-level mobile usage rates attributable to these anchors are not published in standardized public datasets.

Practical distinction: availability vs adoption in Roosevelt County (how to document both)

• Availability (network): Use the FCC National Broadband Map to document where providers report LTE and 5G coverage within the county.
• Adoption (households): Use ACS internet subscription tables on Census.gov to quantify the share of households with cellular data plan subscriptions and compare with fixed broadband subscription categories.

Summary

• Network availability: Best documented via FCC provider-reported LTE/5G coverage layers; rural areas typically have less dense infrastructure and more variable performance away from Portales and main corridors.
• Adoption: Best documented via ACS household internet subscription categories, including “cellular data plan,” which measures subscription presence in the household rather than individual phone ownership.
• Device types and usage patterns: County-level official statistics for smartphone vs. non-smartphone device prevalence and detailed usage behavior are limited; ACS provides partial proxies (computer access and subscription types) rather than direct device counts.

Roosevelt County is in eastern New Mexico on the High Plains, bordering Texas. Clovis (the county seat) is the primary population center, and the presence of agriculture and food processing alongside Cannon Air Force Base contributes to a mix of rural and military-connected residents. This combination typically aligns with heavy mobile-first internet use and strong adoption of mainstream, utility-oriented social platforms for local news, community updates, and family connections, consistent with broader rural U.S. patterns.

Data availability note (county specificity)

Public, methodologically consistent county-level social media penetration, platform share, age, and gender splits are generally not released for Roosevelt County. The most reliable approach is to use U.S. benchmarks from high-quality surveys and apply them as the best available reference point for the county, supplemented by rural/urban trend findings.

User statistics (penetration / active usage)

• Overall social media use (U.S. adults): About 69% of U.S. adults report using social media, based on the Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
• Implication for Roosevelt County: With Roosevelt County’s largely rural/small-city profile, usage is typically close to national averages but shaped by rural broadband constraints and high smartphone reliance (consistent with Pew’s reporting on differential adoption by place type and demographics in the same fact-sheet series).

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Pew consistently finds a strong age gradient in social media adoption:

• 18–29: Highest usage (commonly near-universal in Pew survey results across major platforms).
• 30–49: Very high usage, typically the next-highest group.
• 50–64: Majority usage, but lower than under-50 adults.
• 65+: Lowest usage, though still substantial for certain platforms (notably Facebook).
  Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Gender breakdown

Across many major platforms, Pew shows modest gender differences overall, with platform-specific skews more notable than total social media use:

• Women tend to index higher on visually and socially oriented platforms such as Pinterest and often Facebook/Instagram.
• Men tend to index higher on some discussion- and video/game-adjacent spaces (platform-specific patterns vary by year).
  Source: Pew Research Center platform-by-demographic breakdowns.

Most-used platforms (U.S. adult benchmarks; county-specific shares not published)

Pew’s U.S.-adult usage rates (commonly cited as “% of U.S. adults who say they use…”), used here as the best available reference for Roosevelt County:

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• WhatsApp: ~29%
  Source: Pew Research Center social media usage by platform.
  These figures are the most defensible, widely cited baseline for U.S. communities where local survey microdata are unavailable.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns / preferences)

• Mobile-first use dominates: Rural and small-city residents frequently rely on smartphones for social access; this corresponds with higher use of short-form video (YouTube/TikTok) and feed-based platforms (Facebook/Instagram) that perform well on mobile connections. Pew’s internet and technology reporting supports the centrality of smartphones in online participation patterns: Pew Research Center Internet & Technology research.
• Community information and local news sharing: In smaller population centers like Clovis and Portales, Facebook groups/pages commonly function as a local bulletin board (events, weather, school and sports updates), aligning with Facebook’s broad reach among adults and older age cohorts shown in Pew platform demographics.
• Video as a primary content format: YouTube’s very high overall reach makes it a cross-demographic platform for how-to content, entertainment, and local/regional interest viewing; TikTok and Instagram Reels concentrate more heavily among younger adults, consistent with Pew age splits.
• Age-driven platform separation: Younger adults concentrate more time on TikTok/Instagram/Snapchat, while older adults are more concentrated on Facebook and YouTube, reflecting Pew’s platform-by-age patterns.

Roosevelt County family-related public records are primarily maintained at the state level in New Mexico. Birth and death records (vital records) are administered by the New Mexico Department of Health, Vital Records and Health Statistics, and certified copies are available through the state’s online portal and in-person offices. County offices generally do not issue birth or death certificates. See: New Mexico Vital Records and Health Statistics (NMDOH) and NMDOH Vital Records: ordering and services.

Adoption records and proceedings are handled through the New Mexico courts and related state agencies; access is commonly restricted, with sealed records and limited release under state procedures. Court case access for public matters is provided through the New Mexico Courts system (availability varies by case type). See: New Mexico Courts and New Mexico Courts Case Lookup.

Associate-related records commonly include marriage licenses, divorce decrees, probate, and other civil filings. In Roosevelt County, recording and indexing of certain public documents (for example, some liens or real-property related instruments) is handled by the county clerk. See: Roosevelt County Clerk.

Privacy restrictions generally apply to vital records (limited to eligible requestors, with identification requirements), adoption records (frequently sealed), and some court records (confidential by rule or statute).

Types of records available

Marriage records

• Marriage licenses: Issued by the Roosevelt County Clerk’s office and used to authorize a marriage in New Mexico. After the ceremony, the completed license/certificate is returned for recording as the official county marriage record.
• Certified marriage records: Certified copies are typically issued from the recorded marriage license/certificate on file.

Divorce and annulment records

• Divorce decrees (final judgments): Issued and filed as part of a civil court case in the district court serving Roosevelt County. The decree is the court’s final order dissolving the marriage.
• Annulment decrees (orders/judgments of annulment): Court orders declaring a marriage void or voidable, filed in the same court system as divorce cases.
• Case files and docket records: Associated pleadings, motions, orders, and register-of-actions/docket entries maintained by the court.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

Marriage licenses and recorded marriage certificates

• Filed/recorded at: Roosevelt County Clerk (county-level recording of marriage license/certificate).
• Access: Common access methods include requesting certified copies directly from the County Clerk (in person, by mail, or through the county’s established request process). Some counties provide searchable indexes or limited record lookups; availability varies by local practice.

Divorce and annulment decrees and case records

• Filed at: New Mexico District Court for the judicial district that includes Roosevelt County (the district court is the court of record for divorce and annulment proceedings).
• Access: Court decrees and case records are accessed through the clerk of the district court and the judiciary’s case-access processes. Public terminals and records-request procedures are standard access points for non-sealed civil case materials. Some information may be available through statewide court case lookup systems, subject to access controls and redactions.

State-level vital records

• Statistical/vital record copies: New Mexico maintains statewide vital records through the New Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics for certain certified vital records services and verification. County-recorded marriage documents and court-filed divorce/annulment decrees remain the primary legal source records, while state systems may provide certified abstracts or verifications depending on record type and eligibility.

Typical information included in these records

Marriage licenses / recorded marriage certificates

Common elements include:

• Full legal names of both parties (and any prior names as recorded)
• Ages or dates of birth (varies by form version), and residences/addresses at time of application
• Date and place of marriage (as returned by the officiant)
• Officiant name, title/authority, and signature
• Witness information when required by form/practice
• Date of issuance and county/license number
• Clerk’s recording information and certification details on issued copies

Divorce decrees

Common elements include:

• Names of the parties and court case number
• Date the decree was entered and the judge’s signature
• Findings regarding dissolution of marriage and jurisdictional statements
• Orders addressing property division, debt allocation, spousal support (alimony), and name restoration (when granted)
• Orders addressing children (when applicable): legal custody, parenting time/visitation, child support, medical support, and related terms

Annulment decrees

Common elements include:

• Names of the parties and court case number
• Date of order and judge’s signature
• Legal basis for annulment and the court’s findings
• Orders concerning property, support, and children (when applicable), similar in structure to divorce orders but reflecting annulment status

Privacy or legal restrictions

• Public access baseline: Marriage records recorded by a county clerk and civil court case records (including divorce and annulment decrees) are generally treated as public records in New Mexico, subject to statutory exceptions and court rules.
• Sealed or restricted court records: Courts may seal or restrict access to portions of a divorce/annulment case file by order, particularly where sensitive information is involved. Certain categories of information are commonly protected or redacted under court rules (for example, confidential identifiers and protected personal data).
• Protected personal identifiers: Access to documents containing Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and certain personal data is commonly limited through redaction requirements and court record policies.
• Vital records eligibility rules: Certified copies issued through state vital records systems are generally subject to eligibility requirements and acceptable identification, with restrictions varying by record type and the requester’s relationship to the registrants.
• Fees and identification: Certified copies from county clerks, courts, or the state typically require payment of statutory fees and compliance with identity/authorization requirements for certified issuance.

Reference agencies (official sources)

• Roosevelt County Clerk (marriage licenses/recorded marriage certificates): https://rooseveltcounty.com/elected-officials/county-clerk/
• New Mexico District Courts (case access and court information): https://www.nmcourts.gov/
• New Mexico Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics: https://www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/bvrhs/

Roosevelt County is in eastern New Mexico on the High Plains along the Texas border, with most residents concentrated in and around Clovis (the county seat) and smaller communities such as Portales. The county’s population is shaped by a regional service-and-trade economy, agriculture, and the presence of Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis, which influences commuting, housing demand, and local labor force characteristics.

Education Indicators

Public schools (count and names)

Public K–12 education in Roosevelt County is provided primarily by two districts:

• Clovis Municipal Schools (serves most of the Clovis area)
• Portales Municipal Schools (serves Portales and surrounding areas)

A consolidated, authoritative list of every campus name and current school count is most reliably maintained by the districts and the state. District directories are available via Clovis Municipal Schools (district website) and Portales Municipal Schools (district website). For cross-checking by site codes and enrollment, New Mexico’s Public Education Department (NMPED) provides school/district data tools (NMPED).

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratios and high school graduation rates are published annually at the district and school level through state and federal reporting systems. The most consistent county-relevant proxies are district-level measures reported through:
  • NMPED accountability/report card outputs (NMPED accountability and reporting)
  • The NCES district/school profiles used nationally for ratios and staffing (National Center for Education Statistics)
• County-specific, single-number “Roosevelt County graduation rate” is not always published as a standalone statistic; district rates for Clovis and Portales function as the practical local measure. Where campus-level rates differ, district rates mask variation.

Adult educational attainment (county-level)

Adult educational attainment is tracked through the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). The most recent 5‑year ACS release provides the most stable county estimates:

• High school diploma (or equivalent) share and bachelor’s degree or higher share: Roosevelt County estimates are available under ACS “Educational Attainment” tables.
• The county profile can be retrieved via the Census Bureau’s tools, including data.census.gov (Census data portal) and the county’s QuickFacts page (Census QuickFacts), which typically includes:
  • Percent age 25+ with high school graduate or higher
  • Percent age 25+ with bachelor’s degree or higher

Because ACS is survey-based, year-to-year changes at county scale can reflect sampling variability; 5‑year values are considered the standard proxy for county comparison.

Notable programs (STEM, CTE, AP, postsecondary pipeline)

• Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings and pathways (common in New Mexico districts) typically include trades/technical courses aligned to state standards and, in many districts, work-based learning components; specific Roosevelt County pathways are documented by district program pages and high school course catalogs (district sources linked above).
• Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-credit options are commonly administered at the high school level; course availability is campus-specific and changes by year.
• Postsecondary access is influenced by nearby institutions, including Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) in Portales (ENMU), which supports regional teacher pipelines, workforce training, and (in many New Mexico communities) dual-credit partnerships.

A single countywide inventory of STEM labs, academies, and AP course lists is not consistently published in one dataset; district catalogs and NMPED program reporting serve as the most accurate proxies.

School safety measures and counseling resources

• New Mexico public schools generally implement multi-layer safety practices that can include controlled access, visitor management, emergency drills, threat reporting protocols, and coordination with local law enforcement; implementation specifics vary by campus and district policy.
• Counseling and student support typically include school counselors and referrals to district or community services. Statewide guidance and minimum service expectations are set through NMPED and related state frameworks (NMPED). District handbooks and board policies provide the most accurate local details (district links above).

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

• Official unemployment measures for Roosevelt County are published through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program and are typically available as monthly and annual averages.
• The most current county unemployment rate can be sourced from BLS LAUS (Local Area Unemployment Statistics). (A single “most recent year” figure depends on the latest completed annual average release at time of publication.)

Major industries and employment sectors

Roosevelt County’s employment base is typically characterized by:

• Public administration/defense-related activity associated with Cannon Air Force Base (indirect local impacts through contracting, services, and household spending)
• Health care and social assistance (regional medical services centered in Clovis/Portales)
• Retail trade and accommodation/food services (serving the local population and base-related demand)
• Educational services (K–12 systems and higher education via ENMU)
• Agriculture and agribusiness in the broader eastern New Mexico plains context

For standardized sector shares, the most direct sources are:

• Census Bureau County Business Patterns (County Business Patterns)
• BLS QCEW employer data (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages)

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational structure in counties like Roosevelt is commonly weighted toward:

• Office/administrative support
• Sales and related
• Transportation and material moving
• Health care support and practitioner roles
• Education roles
• Construction and maintenance
• Food preparation and serving

The best standardized source for county occupational composition and wage medians is BLS/OES-style outputs (currently published under OEWS) and state workforce products; national definitions and releases are accessible via BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). County-level detail availability varies by disclosure rules; regional estimates are commonly used as proxies when county suppression occurs.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

• Roosevelt County commuting patterns reflect a hub-and-spoke structure anchored by Clovis and Portales, with notable commuting tied to the base and regional services.
• Mean travel time to work and mode split (drive alone, carpool, etc.) are reported in ACS commuting tables. The most stable county estimates come from the latest ACS 5‑year release via data.census.gov (ACS commuting tables).

Local employment vs out-of-county work

• Local job concentration is strongest in Clovis/Portales, while some residents commute across county lines for specialized roles in surrounding eastern New Mexico counties or toward the Texas border region.
• The most direct measurement uses residence-to-work flows such as the Census Bureau’s OnTheMap/LEHD products, which quantify in-county employment and out-commuting shares (OnTheMap commuting flows). These are the standard proxy when county summaries are needed beyond ACS.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership vs renting

• Homeownership rate and renter share are published in ACS housing tenure tables; the latest 5‑year ACS provides the most reliable county estimate. The county’s tenure breakdown is accessible through data.census.gov (ACS housing tenure) and commonly summarized on Census QuickFacts (QuickFacts housing).

Median property values and recent trends

• Median value of owner-occupied housing units is an ACS metric (self-reported value, not an appraisal). It provides a consistent county trend line across years.
• For market-based pricing trends, county-level real estate indices can be limited; ACS median value is the standard public proxy. Where more granular market tracking is required, it is typically sourced from MLS-based regional reporting (not uniformly public or method-consistent at county scale).

Typical rent prices

• Median gross rent is reported by ACS and is the most consistent countywide statistic. It includes contract rent plus utilities where paid by renters.
• County rent distributions (by unit size, age of structure, and affordability measures such as rent as a percent of income) are also available through ACS housing tables via data.census.gov (ACS rent tables).

Types of housing stock

Roosevelt County housing is typically a mix of:

• Single-family detached homes (dominant in many neighborhoods of Clovis and Portales)
• Apartments and smaller multifamily (more concentrated near city centers, major corridors, and near institutions/employment nodes)
• Manufactured homes and rural properties outside municipal cores, reflecting the county’s agricultural landscape and low-density settlement pattern

ACS “Units in Structure” tables provide standardized shares by housing type at the county level.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)

• In Clovis and Portales, neighborhoods closer to schools, retail corridors, and civic services tend to have higher concentrations of established subdivisions and rentals near employment centers; more rural areas offer larger lots and fewer nearby amenities, with longer drive times for shopping and health services.
• A countywide, quantitative “proximity to amenities” metric is not typically published as an official statistic; GIS-based proximity is usually assessed through local planning documents or mapping analysis.

Property tax overview (rate and typical homeowner cost)

• New Mexico property taxation is administered locally with state rules; effective rates vary by location, assessed value, and applicable levies.
• The most consistent public overview sources for local property tax burdens are:
  • New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department (NM TRD) for statewide property tax structure and administration
  • County assessor/treasurer resources for local mill levies and billing practices (Roosevelt County offices publish local details; a single statewide “average rate” can mask substantial within-county differences)
• A “typical homeowner cost” is best approximated by combining (1) local effective tax rate ranges published by state/local sources with (2) the county’s ACS median home value; this is a proxy because ACS value is not assessed value and exemptions (such as New Mexico’s head-of-family exemption and valuation rules) affect final bills.

Data note (unified): County-level percentages and medians for education attainment, commute times, homeownership, median value, and median rent are most consistently sourced from the ACS 5‑year release; unemployment is most consistently sourced from BLS LAUS. Where campus-specific school metrics (ratios, graduation rates, AP/CTE inventories, and safety/counseling details) are needed, the authoritative sources are district/state report cards and district program documentation, which are updated on district/state schedules and may differ by school site.