Ponce, PR Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 273,739 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Ponce, PR Metro Area

What is the median household income in Ponce, PR Metro Area?: The median household income in Ponce, PR Metro Area is $20,646 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Ponce, PR Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Ponce, PR Metro Area is 44.6% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Ponce, PR Metro Area?: $103,100 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Ponce, PR Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Ponce, PR Metro Area is $503 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

273,739

Median Income

$20,646

Median Home Value

$103,100

Poverty Rate

44.6%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

14.5%

Median Age

43.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$2,963 (+16.8%) Home Value: +$7,800 (+8.2%) Poverty Rate: -3.1 pp (-6.5%) Unemployment: -2.9 pp (-16.7%)

Demographics

Total Population 273,739

Median Age 43.0

Female 52.4%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 99.4% White (non-Hisp.) 0.4% Black 4.7% Asian 0.1% Two or More 39.7% Other 10.1%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Puerto Rican

98.5%

Mexican

0.3%

Cuban

0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $20,646 ±$652

Per Capita Income $39,636

Median Family Income $26,372

Poverty Rate 44.6%

Child Poverty Rate 57.4%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 55.0%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 17.4%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

26.5%

$10–15k

12.7%

$15–25k

17.5%

$25–35k

11.8%

$35–50k

12.4%

$50–75k

10.1%

$75–100k

4.1%

$100–150k

3.4%

$150–200k

0.7%

$200k+

0.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 129,258

Owner-Occupied 71.4%

Renter-Occupied 28.6%

Vacancy Rate 20.5%

Median Home Value $103,100

Median Gross Rent $503

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 29.5%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 42.6%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

12.5%

$50–100k

35.0%

$100–200k

31.4%

$200–300k

6.2%

$300–500k

1.6%

$500k–$1M

0.8%

$1M+

0.3%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

49.6%

$500–1k

43.0%

$1–1.5k

5.4%

$1.5–2k

0.7%

$2–2.5k

0.4%

$2.5–3.5k

0.4%

$3.5k+

0.4%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

14.6%

1 vehicle

41.7%

2 vehicles

29.4%

14.3%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

78.1%

Single-fam. att.

9.9%

2–4 units

0.7%

5–19 units

3.5%

20+ units

2.7%

Mobile home

0.2%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

1.3%

1940–1969

2.4%

1970–1999

28.1%

2000–2009

9.4%

2010+

1.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

No education data available.

Employment

Labor Force Participation 40.7%

Unemployment Rate 14.5%

Work from Home 3.7%

Self-Employed 8.8%

Government Workers 20.4%

Private For-Profit 70.6%

Industry

Edu/Health

24.8%

Retail

14.2%

Manufacturing

10.6%

Arts/Entmt.

9.5%

Public Admin

8.9%

Prof. Services

8.8%

Construction

6.4%

Finance

3.3%

Transportation

3.1%

Agriculture

2.2%

Wholesale

1.7%

Information

1.1%

Occupation

Management

31.7%

Sales

24.4%

Food Prep

21.7%

Production

12.9%

Construction

9.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 24.7 min

Drove Alone 88.1%

Carpool 4.6%

Public Transit 0.3%

Work from Home 3.7%

Walked 1.8%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households —

Avg. Household Size —

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households —

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children —

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

3.6%

5–9

4.7%

10–14

6.0%

15–19

6.2%

20–24

6.7%

25–34

12.9%

35–44

11.3%

45–54

12.2%

55–64

6.7%

65–74

6.8%

75–84

12.3%

85+

8.1%

Under 18: 17.9% Working age (18–64): 82.1% 65 and over: 23.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born —

Naturalized Citizen —

Speaks English Less Than Very Well —

Veterans & Disability

Veteran —

With a Disability —

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 95.4%

Uninsured 4.6%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet —

Has a Computer —

Same House 1 Year Ago —

Moved from Abroad —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023