Puerto Rico · Federal data hub

Arecibo, PR

0.182M people4 counties#5 of 8 in Puerto Rico$24,436 median HHIUpdated April 10, 2026

Investor first look

The numbers that matter most

What an investor checks first when sizing up a new metro — affordability ratio, rent vs income, cap rate proxy, and where the market is moving. Each metric shown vs. state and national medians for instant context.

moderate

Price to income

4.57×

The single most-cited 'is this market still cheap' check. Below 3× and you're in an affordability tailwind.

vs Puerto Rico: 4.99×-0.42
vs U.S.: 3.43×+1.14

Benchmark

4.57×

▼

affordable

moderate

expensive

0×–3×

3×–5×

5×–7×

ACS median home value ÷ median HHI

moderate

Rent to income

25.0%

What share of a typical household's income goes to rent. Below 30% means tenants can absorb modest rent increases.

vs Puerto Rico: 31.3%-6.2
vs U.S.: 23.3%+1.8

Benchmark

25.0%

▼

comfortable

moderate

burdened

15%–25%

25%–30%

30%–40%

(HUD FMR 2BR × 12) ÷ median HHI

tight

Cap rate proxy

3.56%

Rough first-pass yield assuming a 35% expense ratio. Not an underwriting number — a 'is this even worth modeling' filter.

vs Puerto Rico: 3.78%-0.22
vs U.S.: 4.35%-0.79

Benchmark

3.56%

▼

tight

deal-by-deal

solid

1%–3%

3%–5%

5%–7%

(FMR 2BR × 12 × 0.65) ÷ ACS median home value

shrinking

Net migration

0.00%

Forward-looking demand signal. Positive net migration drives rent growth and absorbs new supply.

vs Puerto Rico: 0.00%=
vs U.S.: 0.03%-0.03

Benchmark

0.00%

▼

shrinking

steady

growing

-1%–-0.1%

-0.1%–+0.1%

+0.1%–+1%

IRS net migration ÷ population

Permit pipeline

—

permits per 1,000 residents

Forward-supply indicator. Above ~5 means the metro is building meaningfully relative to its size; below 2 means supply is tight.

vs U.S.: 3.52

Benchmark

tight

moderate

strong

0–2

2–5

5–10

Census BPS permits TTM ÷ population × 1,000

softening

Unemployment

6.2%

Tighter unemployment means higher wages, more rental demand, lower vacancy.

vs Puerto Rico: 7.8%-1.6
vs U.S.: 3.9%+2.3

Benchmark

6.2%

▼

healthy

normal

loose

2%–4%

4%–5.5%

5.5%–8%

BLS LAUS, latest month

Home values

Where prices are and where they've been

5-year price appreciation

+42.2%

homeValues.yearOverYear

+8.9%

Median home value

$111,700

Rents

The rent ladder

Bedroom	Monthly	Annual	% of median HHI
1 BR	$440	$5,280	21.6%
2 BR	$510	$6,120	25.0%
3 BR	$699	$8,388	34.3%

Jobs & income

Labor market direction

Unemployment

6.2%

Median household income

$24,436

Supply pipeline

What's being built

Total TTM

—

Single-family

—

2–4 unit

—

5+ unit

—

Counties

All 4 counties, ranked by population

County	Population	Home value	Median HHI	Permits TTM	YoY
Arecibo Municipio	87,217	$110,800	$23,175	—	—
Hatillo Municipio	38,330	$128,500	$28,001	—	—
Camuy Municipio	32,733	$105,500	$26,094	—	—
Quebradillas Municipio	23,540	$109,700	$23,624	—	—

Peer metros

Similar metros nationally

Metro	Pop	Med HHI	P/I	Cap proxy	HPI 5y	Permits/1k	Unemp
★Arecibo	181,820	$24,436	4.57×	3.56%	+42.2%	—	6.2%
Ponce, PR	222,831	$20,646	—	—	+42.2%	—	8.4%
Aguadilla-Isabela, PR	308,919	$20,800	—	—	+42.2%	—	7.3%
San Germán, PR	124,504	$15,584	—	—	+42.2%	—	—
Mayagüez, PR	97,118	$20,400	—	—	+42.2%	—	8.6%
Carbondale-Marion, IL	133,609	$45,572	—	—	—	—	—

Demographic backbone

Who lives in Arecibo

Median age: 45
Bachelor's+: 26.4%
Owner-occupancy: 68.3%
Vacancy rate: 21.5%
Rent burdened (30%+): 20.6%
Median household income: $24,436

This page shows federally sourced data. A full editorial analysis with charts and investment commentary is in progress.