Puerto Rico · Federal data hub

Ponce, PR

0.223M people6 counties#3 of 8 in Puerto Rico$20,646 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

4.99×

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

vs Puerto Rico: 4.99×=
vs U.S.: 3.43×+1.56

Benchmark

4.99×

▼

affordable

moderate

expensive

0×–3×

3×–5×

5×–7×

ACS median home value ÷ median HHI

burdened

Rent to income

31.3%

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%=
vs U.S.: 23.3%+8.0

Benchmark

31.3%

▼

comfortable

moderate

burdened

15%–25%

25%–30%

30%–40%

(HUD FMR 2BR × 12) ÷ median HHI

deal-by-deal

Cap rate proxy

4.07%

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%+0.29
vs U.S.: 4.35%-0.28

Benchmark

4.07%

▼

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

8.4%

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

vs Puerto Rico: 7.8%+0.6
vs U.S.: 3.9%+4.5

Benchmark

8.4%

▼

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

$103,100

Rents

The rent ladder

Bedroom	Monthly	Annual	% of median HHI
1 BR	$491	$5,892	28.5%
2 BR	$538	$6,456	31.3%
3 BR	$748	$8,976	43.5%

Jobs & income

Labor market direction

Unemployment

8.4%

Median household income

$20,646

Supply pipeline

What's being built

Total TTM

—

Single-family

—

2–4 unit

—

5+ unit

—

Counties

All 6 counties, ranked by population

County	Population	Home value	Median HHI	Permits TTM	YoY
Ponce Municipio	136,542	$108,200	$18,827	—	—
Juana Díaz Municipio	46,333	$102,900	$23,823	—	—
Yauco Municipio	33,988	$98,800	$21,918	—	—
Villalba Municipio	21,984	$103,300	$24,882	—	—
Peñuelas Municipio	20,298	$88,000	$20,959	—	—
Guayanilla Municipio	17,670	$84,800	$21,400	—	—

Peer metros

Similar metros nationally

Metro	Pop	Med HHI	P/I	Cap proxy	HPI 5y	Permits/1k	Unemp
★Ponce	222,831	$20,646	4.99×	4.07%	+42.2%	—	8.4%
Arecibo, PR	181,820	$24,436	—	—	+42.2%	—	6.2%
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%
Monroe, LA	206,072	$49,203	—	—	+28.4%	—	4.3%

Demographic backbone

Who lives in Ponce

Median age: 44
Bachelor's+: 28.3%
Owner-occupancy: 71.4%
Vacancy rate: 20.5%
Rent burdened (30%+): 28.2%
Median household income: $20,646

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