County · Puerto Rico
Arecibo Municipio, Puerto Rico
Arecibo Municipio, Puerto Rico. Arecibo Municipio had 85,539 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.5% since 2020, a smaller fall than Puerto Rico's (−3.1%). It holds 5 places (5 census-designated) and 25 census tracts. GEOID 72013.
Arecibo Municipio is one of the 4 counties of the Arecibo, PR metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
85,539
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 87,754 · ACS 2020-2024: 86,467
Median household income
$23,635
±$1,228 (90% margin)
Puerto Rico: $26,297
Median home value
$116,700
±$3,368 (90% margin)
Puerto Rico: $131,500
Median gross rent
$531
±$27 (90% margin)
Puerto Rico: $578
How many people live in Arecibo Municipio, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 87,754 residents in Arecibo Municipio. The Census Bureau estimates 85,539 for July 1, 2025, down 2.5% since 2020, a smaller fall than Puerto Rico's (−3.1%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 86,467 over 126 square miles of land.
| Measure | Arecibo Municipio | Puerto Rico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 86,467 | 3,234,309 | +1,077 |
| Housing units | 43,237±932 | 1,634,357 | +1,925 |
Arecibo Municipio's population since 2000
From 100,131 in 2000 to 85,539 in 2025: down 14.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Arecibo Municipio?
Arecibo Municipio holds 5 places: 5 census-designated places. The largest is Arecibo zona urbana with 40,831 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Arecibo zona urbana | 39,634 | $22,968 |
|---|---|---|
| Bajadero | 3,522 | $22,361 |
| Sabana Hoyos | 3,239 | $26,505 |
| La Alianza | 2,265 | $14,119 |
| AnimasGEOID 7203024 | 1,261 | $20,693 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Arecibo Municipio?
The median resident of Arecibo Municipio is 45.5 years old; 15.9% are under 18 and 24.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 99.5%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 0.3%.
| Measure | Arecibo Municipio | Puerto Rico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5±0.2 | 44.8 | +2.7 |
| Under 18 years | 15.9% | 16.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.1% | 23.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 99.5%±0.2 pts | 99.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.1 pts | 0.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.1%±0.9 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Arecibo Municipio earn?
Half of Arecibo Municipio's households earn less than $23,635 a year (±$1,228), against $26,297 in Puerto Rico. In 2015-2019 it was $22,949 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 41.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Arecibo Municipio | Puerto Rico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $23,635±$1,228 | $26,297 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $35,211±$1,892 | $41,994 | – |
| Per capita income | $15,244±$737 | $17,981 | +$2,204 |
| People below the poverty line | 41.3%±2.4 pts | 40.5% | −6.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 57.3%±5.3 pts | 54.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 51.7%±2.1 pts | 47.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Arecibo Municipio?
Owners occupy 65.4% of Arecibo Municipio's occupied homes and renters 34.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $116,700 by its owner (±$3,368). The median renter pays $531 a month including utilities, and 35.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Arecibo Municipio | Puerto Rico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $116,700±$3,368 | $131,500 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $531±$27 | $578 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.2%±4.7 pts | 42.3% | −10.6 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $800±$31 | $946 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.4%±2.0 pts | 67.9% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 43,237±932 | 1,634,357 | +1,925 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.7%±0.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.8%±1.3 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 82.7%±1.2 pts | 68.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.4%±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.9%±0.3 pts | 1.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Arecibo Municipio get to work?
86.3% of Arecibo Municipio's workers drive alone and 5.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 14.5%.
| Measure | Arecibo Municipio | Puerto Rico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 43.0%±1.5 pts | 46.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 14.5%±1.9 pts | 10.7% | −3.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 86.3%±2.6 pts | 82.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.9%±1.3 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6%±0.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 1.7%±1.4 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 5.1%±1.4 pts | 6.1% | +2.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.5 min±1.4 | 28.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Arecibo Municipio's census tracts?
Arecibo Municipio is divided into 25 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $12,926 (Tract 3022.01) to $37,768 (Tract 3001.02).
All 25 census tracts of Arecibo Municipio, with their figures
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Arecibo Municipio compare with Puerto Rico's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 7th of 78 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 37th of 78 |
| Residents per square mile | 46th of 78 |
| Median household income | 42nd of 78 |
| Median home value | 37th of 78 |
| Median gross rent | 40th of 78 |
| Poverty rate | 51st of 78 |
| Median age | 28th of 78 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Arecibo Municipio are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.