Population 25,507 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Vega Alta
Household size in Vega Alta
| Period | Vega Alta | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.26 | 3.07 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.20 | 2.93 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.09 | 2.79 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.57 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.69 | −0.53 | −0.03 |
Households in Vega Alta run a little small, averaging 2.57 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Puerto Rico as a whole looks much the same. Household size has dropped from 3.26 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Vega Alta
| Period | Vega Alta | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.4 | 36.7 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 35.7 | 38.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.1 | 42.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.5 | 45.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.1 | +8.3 | +2.3 |
Vega Alta skews older than the country: its median age is 43.5, against 40.1 nationally. Even so, the population here is younger than in Puerto Rico overall, where the median age is 45.0. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 35.4, a much bigger shift than 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 Vega Alta
| Period | Vega Alta | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.0% | 18.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.1% | 18.1% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 17.9% | 16.6% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.6% | 15.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.5 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Vega Alta: 15.6% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. That is in line with the rest of Puerto Rico. The single-parent share has fallen 3.3 points since 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 Vega Alta
Renters in Vega Alta
| Period | Vega Alta | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.5% | 27.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.3% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.2% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.6% | 32.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +4.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a quarter of households in Vega Alta rent their homes (27.6%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 67.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. The renter share is up 13.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Vega Alta
| Period | Vega Alta | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.5% | 15.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.0% | 18.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.3% | 22.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.1% | 19.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | +3.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Vega Alta: 19.1% 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 is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Vega Alta
| Period | Vega Alta | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1984 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +3 | +6 |
The housing in Vega Alta is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the northwest.
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 Vega Alta
| Period | Vega Alta | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $589 | $489 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $569 | $528 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $540 | $553 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $689 | $658 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$101 | +$168 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Vega Alta costs $689 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $101 a month from 2006–10, a 17% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 38.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the southeast.
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 Vega Alta
Bachelor's degrees in Vega Alta
| Period | Vega Alta | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 21.9% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.3% | 24.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.7% | 26.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.7% | 30.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.7 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Vega Alta have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 24.7%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.7 points, mirroring the country.
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 Vega Alta
| Period | Vega Alta | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.4% | 67.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 59.3% | 72.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 73.0% | 76.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 78.9% | 81.4% | 89.3% |
| Change | +19.5 pts | +13.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over one in five adults in Vega Alta never finished high school, well above the national share: only 78.9% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 19.5 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Vega Alta
| Period | Vega Alta | Puerto Rico | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.5% | 16.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 17.7% | 18.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.9% | 16.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.5% | 10.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | −6.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Vega Alta: 14.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 6.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Vega Alta 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vega Alta | 2.57 | 43.5 | 15.6% | 27.6% | 19.1% | 1986 | $689 | 24.7% | 78.9% | 14.5% |
| Dorado | 2.72 | 42.8 | 14.5% | 25.9% | 19.1% | 1986 | $1,013 | 37.7% | 85.9% | 10.5% |
| La Trocha | 2.56 | 44.4 | 17.9% | 24.9% | 19.8% | 1980 | $558 | 14.6% | 68.6% | 19.6% |
| Vega Baja | 2.51 | 44.8 | 16.5% | 25.5% | 18.0% | 1981 | $705 | 29.6% | 81.7% | 10.0% |
| San Jose | 2.89 | 43.0 | 15.3% | 19.4% | 15.1% | 1990 | $1,065 | 37.1% | 86.7% | 11.0% |
| Toa Alta | 2.78 | 43.1 | 17.2% | 23.8% | 15.8% | 1987 | $683 | 24.3% | 82.1% | 9.6% |
| Corozal | 3.05 | 43.5 | 17.4% | 24.0% | 16.7% | 1979 | $519 | 20.7% | 77.0% | 7.1% |
| Morovis | 2.69 | 42.7 | 20.8% | 23.8% | 14.1% | 1987 | $610 | 22.5% | 79.8% | 10.2% |
| Toa Baja | 2.46 | 44.7 | 16.8% | 30.7% | 17.8% | 1976 | $708 | 27.6% | 83.6% | 7.9% |
| Bayamon Gardens | 3.06 | 38.8 | 11.9% | 12.4% | 8.7% | 1996 | $1,204 | 44.9% | 91.1% | 6.3% |
| Levittown | 2.48 | 41.3 | 21.1% | 19.3% | 11.2% | 1999 | $1,250 | 64.3% | 95.6% | 6.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Reading, MA · Mandan, ND · Marion, NC · Martinsville, VA · Meadville, PA · Medford, NY · Mokena, IL · Monsey, NY · Monterey, CA · Parrish, FL
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 Vega Alta. 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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