County · Puerto Rico
Lares Municipio, Puerto Rico
Lares Municipio, Puerto Rico. Lares Municipio had 27,744 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.3% since 2020, a smaller fall than Puerto Rico's (−3.1%). It holds 1 place (1 census-designated) and 8 census tracts. GEOID 72081.
Lares Municipio is the county of the Lares, PR micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
27,744
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 28,105 · ACS 2020-2024: 27,855
Median household income
$18,917
±$1,377 (90% margin)
Puerto Rico: $26,297
Median home value
$105,100
±$5,828 (90% margin)
Puerto Rico: $131,500
Median gross rent
$505
±$24 (90% margin)
Puerto Rico: $578
How many people live in Lares Municipio, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 28,105 residents in Lares Municipio. The Census Bureau estimates 27,744 for July 1, 2025, down 1.3% since 2020, a smaller fall than Puerto Rico's (−3.1%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 27,855 over 61 square miles of land.
| Measure | Lares Municipio | Puerto Rico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 27,855 | 3,234,309 | +2,159 |
| Housing units | 12,921±374 | 1,634,357 | +607 |
Lares Municipio's population since 2000
From 34,415 in 2000 to 27,744 in 2025: down 19.4%. 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 Lares Municipio?
Lares Municipio holds 1 place: 1 census-designated place. The largest is Lares zona urbana with 5,286 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Lares zona urbana | 5,081 | $19,294 |
|---|
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 Lares Municipio?
The median resident of Lares Municipio is 45.5 years old; 15.9% are under 18 and 23.6% 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 | Lares Municipio | Puerto Rico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.5±0.2 | 44.8 | +2.5 |
| Under 18 years | 15.9% | 16.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.6% | 23.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 99.5%±0.4 pts | 99.0% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.4%±1.5 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 Lares Municipio earn?
Half of Lares Municipio's households earn less than $18,917 a year (±$1,377), against $26,297 in Puerto Rico. In 2015-2019 it was $20,346 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 55.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Lares Municipio | Puerto Rico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $18,917±$1,377 | $26,297 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $26,295±$2,097 | $41,994 | – |
| Per capita income | $11,029±$840 | $17,981 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 55.4%±3.9 pts | 40.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 67.0%±7.6 pts | 54.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 67.6%±3.7 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 Lares Municipio?
Owners occupy 63.0% of Lares Municipio's occupied homes and renters 37.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $105,100 by its owner (±$5,828). The median renter pays $505 a month including utilities, and 42.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Lares Municipio | Puerto Rico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $105,100±$5,828 | $131,500 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $505±$24 | $578 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.9%±8.2 pts | 42.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $705±$35 | $946 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.0%±3.8 pts | 67.9% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 12,921±374 | 1,634,357 | +607 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6%±1.0 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.5%±1.4 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.5%±2.7 pts | 68.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±0.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.6%±1.0 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 Lares Municipio get to work?
83.1% of Lares Municipio's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 30.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 13.0%.
| Measure | Lares Municipio | Puerto Rico | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 43.0%±2.3 pts | 46.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 13.0%±3.0 pts | 10.7% | −6.6 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 83.1%±3.6 pts | 82.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.9%±3.4 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3%±0.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Walked | 3.5%±1.9 pts | 2.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 0.9%±0.6 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.7 min±2.4 | 28.0 min | −4.7 min |
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 Lares Municipio's census tracts?
Lares Municipio is divided into 8 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $16,525 (Tract 9581) to $20,829 (Tract 9578).
| Tract 957772081957700 | 4,693±659 | $17,622 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 957872081957800 | 6,222±1,084 | $20,829 |
| Tract 957972081957900 | 3,851±659 | $18,338 |
| Tract 9580.0172081958001 | 3,474±619 | $19,985 |
| Tract 958172081958100 | 1,812±377 | $16,525 |
| Tract 958272081958200 | 3,818±692 | $18,302 |
| Tract 958372081958300 | 2,071±386 | $17,905 |
| Tract 958472081958400 | 1,914±422 | $18,444 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Lares Municipio compare with Puerto Rico's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 44th of 78 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 19th of 78 |
| Residents per square mile | 60th of 78 |
| Median household income | 72nd of 78 |
| Median home value | 58th of 78 |
| Median gross rent | 51st of 78 |
| Poverty rate | 5th 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 Lares 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.