Vega Baja Municipio, PR

County

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2024 Population

53,892

2024 Median Age

44.7

0.903% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

41.1%

2.9% 1-year decrease

2024 Median Household Income

$24,244

1.54% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$122,700

4.25% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

18,003

4.94% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Vega Baja Municipio, PR reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

The largest universities in Vega Baja Municipio, PR are Caribbean University-Vega Baja (39 degrees awarded in 2024).

In 2024, the median property value in Vega Baja Municipio, PR was $122,700, and the homeownership rate was 74.8%.

Most people in Vega Baja Municipio, PR drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 29.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Vega Baja Municipio, PR was 2 cars per household.

Vega Baja Municipio, PR borders Manatí Municipio, PR, Morovis Municipio, PR, and Vega Alta Municipio, PR.

United States Puerto Rico San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR

Population & Diversity

In 2024, there were 2.44 times more Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) residents (30.4k people) in Vega Baja Municipio, PR than any other race or ethnicity. There were 12.4k Other (Hispanic) and 6.91k White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Vega Baja Municipio, PR

Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
30.4k ± 1.41k
Other (Hispanic)
12.4k ± 1.23k
White (Hispanic)
6.91k ± 1.19k

99.2%

Hispanic Population

53.5k people

99.2% of the people in Vega Baja Municipio, PR are hispanic (53.5k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Vega Baja Municipio, PR as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Puerto Rico.

Most Common Origin

Dominican Republic
49,766 ± 5,435 people
Cuba
9,846 ± 2,432 people
Colombia
4,201 ± 1,590 people

In 2024, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Puerto Rico was Dominican Republic, the natal country of 49,766 Puerto Rico residents, followed by Cuba with 9,846 and Colombia with 4,201.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
246 ± 134
Gulf War (1990s)
179 ± 103
Gulf War (2001-)
159 ± 113

Vega Baja Municipio, PR has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.37 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Vega Baja Municipio, PR.

Health

93.1% of the population of Vega Baja Municipio, PR has health coverage, with 18.6% on employee plans, 46.2% on Medicaid, 13.9% on Medicare, 13.1% on non-group plans, and 1.16% on military or VA plans.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.5% were men and 52.5% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 17.4% under 18 years, 21.1% between 18 and 34 years, 38.6% between 35 and 64 years, and 23% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.5% were men and 52.5% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

6.94%

Uninsured

18.6%

Employer Coverage

46.2%

Medicaid

13.9%

Medicare

13.1%

Non-Group

1.16%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Vega Baja Municipio, PR declined by 30.7% from 10% to 6.94%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Vega Baja Municipio, PR changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Economy

The economy of Vega Baja Municipio, PR employs 18k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Vega Baja Municipio, PR were Manufacturing (2,655 people), Retail Trade (2,344 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (2,079 people), and the highest paying industries were Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($35,273), Finance & Insurance ($31,513), and Public Administration ($30,358).

Employment

Occupations

18k

2024 Value

± 1,272

4.94%

1 Year growth

± 9.24%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Vega Baja Municipio, PR grew at a rate of 4.94%, from 17.2k employees to 18k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Vega Baja Municipio, PR, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (2,267 people), Sales & Related Occupations (1,853 people), and Production Occupations (1,668 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Vega Baja Municipio, PR.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Puerto Rico.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Puerto Rico (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

18k

2024 Value

± 1,272

4.94%

1 Year growth

± 9.24%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Vega Baja Municipio, PR grew at a rate of 4.94%, from 17.2k employees to 18k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Vega Baja Municipio, PR, are Manufacturing (2,655 people), Retail Trade (2,344 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (2,079 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Vega Baja Municipio, PR, though some of these residents may live in Vega Baja Municipio, PR and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$22,558

Median earning men ± $2,145

$22,120

Median earning women ± $1,617

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($34,048), Wholesale Trade ($30,349), and Manufacturing ($28,603).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Information ($56,341), Manufacturing ($32,740), and Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($28,440).

Education

In 2024, universities in Vega Baja Municipio, PR awarded 39 degrees. The student population of Vega Baja Municipio, PR in 2024 is skewed towards women, with 59 male students and 133 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Vega Baja Municipio, PR are Hispanic or Latino (39 and 100%).

The largest universities in Vega Baja Municipio, PR by number of degrees awarded are Caribbean University-Vega Baja (39 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Vega Baja Municipio, PR are Home Health Aide (9 and 23.1%), Criminal Justice - Police Science (8 and 20.5%), and Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, & Nursing Assistants (6 and 15.4%).

The median tuition cost for private four year colleges is $7,344.

Admissions & Enrollments

Enrollments by Gender and Races

In 2024 there were 192 students enrolled in Vega Baja Municipio, PR, 30.7% men and 69.3% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 192 records, of which 69.3% were women and 30.7% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Criminal Justice - Police Science
6 degrees awarded
General Business Administration & Management
4 degrees awarded
Other Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, & Nursing Assistants
4 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Vega Baja Municipio, PR was Criminal Justice - Police Science with 6 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Vega Baja Municipio, PR according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Caribbean University-Vega Baja

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

39 degrees awarded

In 2024, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Caribbean University-Vega Baja with 39 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

In 2024, 7 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Vega Baja Municipio, PR, which is 0.219 times less than the 32 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2024, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 39 degrees mean that there were Infinityk times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, American Indian or Alaska Native, with 0 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($7,344) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,500) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2024.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,650) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Vega Baja Municipio, PR was $122,700 in 2024, which is 0.369 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $117,700 to $122,700, a 4.25% increase. The homeownership rate in Vega Baja Municipio, PR is 74.8%, which is higher than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Vega Baja Municipio, PR have an average commute time of 29.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Vega Baja Municipio, PR is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property

$122,700

Median Property Value 2024

±$3,816

$16,157

Median Property Taxes

±$759

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Vega Baja Municipio, PR the largest share of households pay taxes in the None range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Vega Baja Municipio, PR compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

74.8%

Homeownership

2024

74.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 74.8% of the housing units in Vega Baja Municipio, PR were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 75.3%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Vega Baja Municipio, PR compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$24,244

Median Household Income

± $1,840

21.6k

Number of Households

± 1,185

In 2024, the median household income of the 21.6k households in Vega Baja Municipio, PR grew to $24,244 from the previous year's value of $23,877.

The following chart displays the households in Vega Baja Municipio, PR distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Vega Baja Municipio, PR is from Puerto Rico.

0.454

2024 Wage GINI in Puerto Rico

0.46

2023 Wage GINI in Puerto Rico

In 2024, the income inequality in Puerto Rico was 0.454 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 1.22% decline from 2023 to 2024, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Puerto Rico was lower than than the national average of 0.474. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Puerto Rico in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Puerto Rico across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (89.4%)
Walked (3.72%)
Carpooled (3.36%)

In 2024, 89.4% of workers in Vega Baja Municipio, PR drove alone to work, followed by those who walked to work (3.72%) and those who carpooled to work (3.36%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

29.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Vega Baja Municipio, PR have a longer commute time (29.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 3.25% of the workforce in Vega Baja Municipio, PR have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Vega Baja Municipio, PR compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Vega Baja Municipio, PR distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Vega Baja Municipio, PR have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

41.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Vega Baja Municipio, PR (22k out of 53.5k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 75+ and then Females 65 - 74.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Vega Baja Municipio, PR is Hispanic, followed by Two Or More and Other.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.