Isabela, PR

This county of 42,888 residents needs 835 more housing units over the next five years. Isabela is a CDBG-entitlement community, see how the ROAD to Housing Act could change that funding. Isabela is part of the Puerto Rico Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Housing snapshot

Population
42,888 (2026)
Households
15,299
Median household income
$23,266 (2024)
Owner-occupied
45%
Five-year housing need
835 units
$23,266 Median income (2024 estimate)
42,888 Population (2026 estimate)
N/A Jobs
N/A Recent building permits (previous 5 years; Census BPS)
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How is the population changing?

Isabela, PR has a population of roughly 42,890 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How are households changing by income?

Isabela, PR has roughly 15,299 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Isabela, PR is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 83% of units. Isabela, PR is roughly split between owners and renters, at 45% owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Isabela, PR needs 835 new units over the next 5 years.

586
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
3.8%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 15,299 in 2026 to 15,885 in 2031.
249
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
168
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 1.5 per 1,000 units.
26
Ownership vacancy adjustment
Owner-occupied vacancy is 1.2%. This is below the minimum stable target of 1.5%.
55
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 1.35%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
835
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
167
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
3.8%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
0.8%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

Build Now Act: how could CDBG funding change?

The Build Now Act (Section 213 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act) ties a CDBG entitlement community's grant to how much housing it is building. This is a CommunityScale estimate from public ACS data, not HUD's official determination — HUD calculates from Census Master Address File block counts.

How do these communities compare to each other?