County · Puerto Rico

Vega Alta Municipio, Puerto Rico

Vega Alta Municipio, Puerto Rico. Vega Alta Municipio had 34,351 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.9% since 2020, in line with Puerto Rico (−3.1%). It holds 5 places (5 census-designated) and 10 census tracts. GEOID 72143.

Vega Alta Municipio is one of the 40 counties of the San Juan-Bayamón-Caguas, PR metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

34,351

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 35,395 · ACS 2020-2024: 34,921

Median household income

$25,538

±$2,380 (90% margin)
Puerto Rico: $26,297

Median home value

$140,700

±$8,234 (90% margin)
Puerto Rico: $131,500

Median gross rent

$667

±$69 (90% margin)
Puerto Rico: $578

How many people live in Vega Alta Municipio, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 35,395 residents in Vega Alta Municipio. The Census Bureau estimates 34,351 for July 1, 2025, down 2.9% since 2020, in line with Puerto Rico (−3.1%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 34,921 over 28 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −187 (35,153)
2021→2022 −451 (34,702)
2022→2023 −168 (34,534)
2023→2024 +1 (34,535)
2024→2025 −184 (34,351)

Vega Alta Municipio in Puerto Rico. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Vega Alta Municipio	Puerto Rico	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	34,921	3,234,309	−2,185
Housing units	17,058±434	1,634,357	+1,123

Vega Alta Municipio's population since 2000

From 37,910 in 2000 to 34,351 in 2025: down 9.4%. 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.

2000 Census 37,910
2020 Census 35,395
2025 (estimate) 34,351

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 Vega Alta Municipio?

Vega Alta Municipio holds 5 places: 5 census-designated places. The largest is Vega Alta zona urbana with 8,388 residents (2020-2024). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Vega Alta Municipio, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Vega Alta zona urbana	zona urbana	8,811	8,388±929	$25,197	$123,900	40.1%	100%
Breñas	comunidad	3,860	4,174±1,032	$62,778	$283,300	27.9%	100%
CeibaGEOID 7216139	comunidad	2,867	2,640±729	$26,064	$132,400	34.7%	75%
Monserrate	comunidad	2,331	2,523±535	$18,574	$101,000	49.2%	9%
SabanaGEOID 7273200	comunidad	1,542	1,034±405	$20,417	$85,900	58.8%	8%

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 Vega Alta Municipio?

The median resident of Vega Alta Municipio is 42.4 years old; 17.6% are under 18 and 21.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 99.6%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 0.3%.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Vega Alta Municipio	Puerto Rico	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	42.4±0.5	44.8	+2.8
Under 18 years	17.6%	16.1%	–
65 years and over	21.0%	23.4%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	99.6%±0.3 pts	99.0%	+1.2 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	0.3%±0.3 pts	0.6%	–
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.2 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	4.1%±1.1 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 Vega Alta Municipio earn?

Half of Vega Alta Municipio's households earn less than $25,538 a year (±$2,380), against $26,297 in Puerto Rico. In 2015-2019 it was $24,673 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 40.8% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Vega Alta Municipio	Puerto Rico	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$25,538±$2,380	$26,297	no clear change
Mean household income	$41,686±$4,961	$41,994	–
Per capita income	$18,289±$2,498	$17,981	+$3,847
People below the poverty line	40.8%±4.2 pts	40.5%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	51.9%±9.1 pts	54.9%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	49.7%±3.4 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 Vega Alta Municipio?

Owners occupy 69.5% of Vega Alta Municipio's occupied homes and renters 30.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $140,700 by its owner (±$8,234). The median renter pays $667 a month including utilities, and 52.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Vega Alta Municipio	Puerto Rico	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$140,700±$8,234	$131,500	no clear change
Median gross rent	$667±$69	$578	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	52.4%±11.8 pts	42.3%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,034±$99	$946	–
Owner-occupied homes	69.5%±3.1 pts	67.9%	no clear change
Housing units	17,058±434	1,634,357	+1,123
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.4%±0.4 pts	1.3%	–
Rental vacancy rate	1.0%±1.3 pts	5.1%	–
Single-family detached homes	72.9%±2.9 pts	68.0%	–
Mobile homes	0.2%±0.2 pts	0.2%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.8%±0.7 pts	0.2%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	1.1%±0.6 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 Vega Alta Municipio get to work?

82.9% of Vega Alta Municipio's workers drive alone and 7.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 31.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 15.5%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Vega Alta Municipio	Puerto Rico	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	47.7%±2.4 pts	46.4%	–
Unemployment rate	15.5%±4.0 pts	10.7%	−6.1 pts
Drove alone to work	82.9%±3.3 pts	82.6%	–
Carpooled	4.9%±1.6 pts	6.4%	–
Public transportation	0.4%±0.6 pts	0.9%	–
Walked	1.8%±1.2 pts	2.4%	–
Worked from home	7.9%±2.3 pts	6.1%	–
Mean travel time to work	31.2 min±1.5	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 Vega Alta Municipio's census tracts?

Vega Alta Municipio is divided into 10 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $18,938 (Tract 5506.01) to $73,737 (Tract 5501.01).

Census tracts of Vega Alta Municipio, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 5501.0172143550101	Breñas (19%)	3,019	3,652±775	$73,737	$251,000	not published	26.4%
Tract 5501.0272143550102	–	1,520	1,465±522	$20,707	$95,800	not published	49.2%
Tract 5501.0372143550103	Breñas (43%)	4,850	5,134±860	$39,083	$224,700	not published	34.5%
Tract 550272143550200	Ceiba (32%)	5,026	5,012±791	$23,915	$143,700	$692	42.9%
Tract 550372143550300	Vega Alta (2%)	4,658	4,743±765	$22,349	$135,300	not published	44.4%
Tract 550472143550400	Vega Alta (95%)	3,507	3,301±570	$19,811	$104,000	$671	47.9%
Tract 550572143550500	Vega Alta (87%)	5,017	4,964±857	$26,754	$133,500	$641	34.5%
Tract 5506.0172143550601	Vega Alta (20%)	4,713	3,576±605	$18,938	$110,300	$577	48.8%
Tract 5506.0272143550602	–	3,085	3,074±667	$22,364	$147,200	$610	48.4%
Tract 990072143990000	–	0	0±15	not published	not published	not published	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Vega Alta Municipio compare with Puerto Rico's other counties?

Vega Alta Municipio's rank among Puerto Rico's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	33rd of 78
Growth 2020-2025	42nd of 78
Residents per square mile	16th of 78
Median household income	25th of 78
Median home value	17th of 78
Median gross rent	10th of 78
Poverty rate	53rd of 78
Median age	68th of 78

Every county in Puerto Rico

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 Vega Alta 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.