Population 317,653 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in San Juan
Household size in San Juan
| Period | San Juan | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.62 | 3.07 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.30 | 2.79 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.19 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.42 | −0.53 | −0.03 |
Households in San Juan are small: just 2.19 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has dropped from 2.62 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other Puerto Rico city with 5,000+ people has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in San Juan
| Period | San Juan | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.3 | 36.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.3 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.5 | 42.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.9 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.6 | +8.3 | +2.3 |
San Juan skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.9, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 39.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in San Juan
| Period | San Juan | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.1% | 18.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.2% | 18.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.4% | 16.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.5% | 15.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.6 pts | −2.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in San Juan than nationally: 14.5%, against 11.6%. Even so, single parents are less common here than in Puerto Rico overall (15.6%). The single-parent share is down 4.6 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in San Juan
Renters in San Juan
| Period | San Juan | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.4% | 27.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.9% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.5% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 47.3% | 32.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +4.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in San Juan than nationally: 47.3% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among owners, 54.7% have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 3.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only one other Puerto Rico city with 5,000+ people has a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in San Juan
| Period | San Juan | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 15.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 20.7% | 18.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.4% | 22.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 19.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.4 pts | +3.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in San Juan: 21.6% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 5.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in San Juan
| Period | San Juan | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in San Juan is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1967 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the west. San Juan has the oldest homes of any Puerto Rico city with 5,000+ people.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in San Juan
| Period | San Juan | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $551 | $489 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $598 | $528 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $584 | $553 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $732 | $658 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$181 | +$168 | +$606 |
The median renter in San Juan pays $732 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Puerto Rico overall ($658). Rent has climbed $181 a month since 2006–10, up 33%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 32.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in San Juan
Bachelor's degrees in San Juan
| Period | San Juan | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.3% | 21.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.2% | 24.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 38.2% | 26.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.8% | 30.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +9.5 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in San Juan than nationally: 42.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 9.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 110 Puerto Rico cities with 5,000+ people, only four have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in San Juan
| Period | San Juan | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 74.5% | 67.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 77.9% | 72.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.8% | 76.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 86.2% | 81.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.7 pts | +13.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in seven adults in San Juan never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 86.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Even so, the rate is higher than in Puerto Rico overall (81.4%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 11.7 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in San Juan
| Period | San Juan | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.8% | 16.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.3% | 18.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.7% | 16.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.4% | 10.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −6.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in San Juan runs well above the national rate: 12.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
San Juan compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Juan | 2.19 | 45.9 | 14.5% | 47.3% | 21.6% | 1970 | $732 | 42.8% | 86.2% | 12.4% |
| Puerto Nuevo | 2.42 | 30.9 | 19.8% | 59.9% | 33.5% | 1960 | $789 | 51.9% | 82.4% | 15.2% |
| Guaynabo | 2.48 | 45.7 | 10.4% | 28.5% | 14.0% | 1980 | $1,138 | 52.4% | 88.2% | 6.1% |
| St. Just | 2.31 | 41.9 | 15.7% | 29.7% | 11.9% | 1986 | $913 | 39.7% | 88.0% | 4.8% |
| Trujillo Alto | 2.46 | 44.4 | 14.5% | 25.4% | 11.8% | 1983 | $778 | 40.1% | 89.2% | 8.2% |
| Carolina | 2.38 | 44.6 | 18.3% | 33.0% | 15.3% | 1976 | $730 | 36.9% | 89.5% | 11.3% |
| Fort Buchanan | 2.14 | 43.4 | 5.8% | 28.7% | 18.5% | 1975 | $1,213 | 40.2% | 80.5% | 5.0% |
| La Cumbre | 2.66 | 48.0 | 12.4% | 27.5% | 19.3% | 1982 | $726 | 37.0% | 83.8% | 9.7% |
| Camarones | 2.42 | 52.3 | 9.2% | 31.6% | 16.9% | 1980 | $672 | 24.6% | 75.4% | 8.6% |
| Catano | 2.45 | 45.4 | 18.3% | 40.1% | 16.8% | 1976 | $736 | 22.9% | 78.2% | 10.3% |
| Bayamon | 2.45 | 44.1 | 16.1% | 29.5% | 15.1% | 1975 | $775 | 33.0% | 86.1% | 7.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Clarksville, TN · Chapel Hill, NC · Chandler, AZ · Champaign, IL · Cicero, IL · Chesapeake, VA · Cleveland, TN · Centreville, VA · Chula Vista, CA · Casas Adobes, AZ
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up San Juan. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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